James 1-5: Be Patient, Stand Firm

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! James 5:1-9 NIV

As another year comes to an end, these words of James seem an apt description of our times.  If we fail to recognize ourselves in these descriptions, we are deceived.  We are wealthy beyond means but our wealth is rotting, our gold and silver are corrupting.  All that we have hoarded up is now consuming us. It may be just the holidays, but I am so tired of overindulgence.  I'm sick from all the excess.  It doesn't leave me feeling full, it leaves me feeling empty.

We should have separated ourselves from the world and all of it's trappings years ago, but it is not too late.  Although the Lord's coming is near, there is still time to do what we should have been doing all along.  Throw off all that binds us to this earth, be patient and stand firm.   

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