Sermon Synopsis
James chapter five calls believers to live out a genuine, living faith in the last days. James warns against trusting in wealth, urges patient endurance amid suffering, and highlights prayer as the lifeline of faithful Christian living. Through vivid images and biblical examples, he reminds the church that God sees injustice, sustains the steadfast, and restores the wandering. The chapter ends with a vision of a healthy church that waits expectantly, prays faithfully, and loves persistently as it looks toward the Lord’s return.
Please note: This transcript is provided as close to verbatim record of the sermon.
Living Faith in the Last Days
James 5
Introduction
Good morning. Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement leading up to this morning’s message. I hope you will be able to follow along—I feel like this message may be a bit longer, so I will be going a bit faster.
Today, we are covering the final chapter in the book of James. Throughout this letter, we have seen that James is deeply concerned with what it means to have a living faith. It is a faith that does not just talk, but acts. A faith that does not just hear, but obeys.
In chapter five, James shows us what genuine faith looks like in the last days:
That will be our basic structure today. If we are in the third section in the last ten minutes, then you know we are right on track.
Before we begin, let us pray.
(Opening prayer )
James 5:1–6
I will be reading from the ESV. You may follow along on the slides.
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you…” (James 5:1–6)
Right at the start of James chapter five, you may notice that these verses almost sound like they do not belong in this letter. There is a sudden and sharp change in tone. James, who has been addressing believers throughout the letter, now seems to turn toward the ungodly rather than the scattered Christians he has been writing to.
There are differing views on this passage, but I am inclined to think that James has shifted his focus here and is pronouncing a prophetic warning of judgment. The language is extremely strong—there is no encouragement here, no call to repentance, no invitation to turn back. It sounds very much like the warnings of the Old Testament prophets.
This judgment is directed at the wealthy who gained their riches through oppression. Verse one says, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.” That is not language meant to comfort.
So why does James include this section in a letter written to persecuted believers?
I would suggest two reasons.
First, to remind believers that God sees the injustices of this world, and He will bring them to account.
Second, to warn the church that we are not immune to the love of money and self-indulgence. James likely did not expect unbelievers to read this letter, yet he included this warning anyway. That suggests it is also meant for us.
So we should not immediately dismiss this passage and think, “This does not apply to me.” Instead, we should examine ourselves carefully.
Wealth and the Heart
The Bible never condemns wealth itself. Scripture gives us examples of people like Abraham, Job, and Lydia who were materially blessed by God. The danger lies not in what we possess, but in what possesses us.
Money becomes dangerous when it becomes our master instead of our means.
Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils…” It is not wealth that destroys us, but our craving for it. That craving slowly pulls our hearts away from God. Wandering rarely happens suddenly—it happens gradually.
Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 5:10, “Whoever loves money never has enough… whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.” This is so true of our society today—and perhaps of ourselves. We tell ourselves that once we earn a little more, then we will be secure, then we will give more, then we will serve more. But “enough” never really comes.
So James calls us to ask: What am I truly trusting in—God or money?
Three Warnings About Wealth
James gives us three warnings about how wealth can corrupt us:
James uses the word “evidence” in verse three. The things we hoard, cling to, and trust in will one day become evidence against us—like items presented in a courtroom.
This is not meant to guilt-trip us. God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. He wants us to enjoy His blessings. The real question is this:
God calls us to remember that everything we have—every dollar, every talent, every opportunity—is entrusted to us to steward for His glory.
Heart-Check Questions
Before moving on, James invites us to pause and ask:
One day, everything we cling to will fade. But the love and generosity we show will matter for eternity.
James 5:7–12
After the strong warning of the first six verses, James now turns back to the believers. He addresses them tenderly as “brothers.”
His instruction is simple, but difficult: “Be patient.”
Waiting is often one of the hardest tests of faith. We live in an instant world, yet faith is rarely instant. James writes to believers who had lost homes, jobs, and family members through persecution.
This waiting is not passive resignation. It is expectant perseverance—steadfastness. It is a waiting that holds fast because it knows who is coming.
Examples of Patient Faith
The Farmer
The farmer prepares the soil, sows the seed, and waits. He cannot control the rain. Much of the work happens beneath the surface. So it is with God’s work in us.
The Prophets
They were faithful and suffered greatly. Scripture calls them blessed—not because suffering is pleasant, but because God uses it to refine faith.
Job
Job questioned, lamented, and wrestled—but he never let go of God. He held onto who God is, even when he did not understand why.
James reminds us that the Lord is compassionate and merciful—even when we cannot see it.
Living Ready
James says the coming of the Lord is at hand. He was not mistaken. The early church lived with constant readiness, and so should we.
If Christ could return today, how would that change the way we live?
James 5:13–20
In this final section, James answers the question: What do we do while we wait?
His answer is simple: pray.
Whether suffering or rejoicing, we are to turn to God first.
Prayer in Community
James describes a beautiful picture of church life:
Healing often begins with humility—admitting we need help.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful—not because the person is perfect, but because their heart is aligned with God.
Elijah: A Man Like Us
Elijah was not extraordinary because of who he was, but because of the God he prayed to. James emphasizes that Elijah was “a man with a nature like ours.” That is deeply encouraging.
The power is not in us—it is in God.
Restoring the Wandering
James closes his letter with a call to pursue those who wander from the truth. This is steadfast love in action. God’s grace is not only able to forgive, but also to restore.
A healthy church:
Conclusion: Three Takeaways
From James chapter five:
May we have a faith that does not just believe, but lives—a living faith for the last days.
(Closing prayer)