Jump Start # 710

James 5:13-14 “Is anyone suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

I have heard these verses discussed many times in Bible studies. A lot of attention is given to identify what the oil was and what application that has in our world today. There is an overall thought in these two verses that I want us to look at.

James describes the state of just about everyone. Suffering, cheerful, sick—there are not many other options. Today, you are most likely one of the three, if not a combination of the three. Suffering, cheerful or sick—inside or outside, that’s how most of us are.

What James does, is shows us how we are to be totally spiritual in all that we do. We cannot leave our relationship with the Lord at the church house or park it because things are not going well. We are to be constantly connected to the Lord. That is a great reminder. We not only forget that, but because of how things are going, they tend to affect that.

• The suffering MUST pray. I like the word “must.” It’s something you just have to do. Suffering from problems. Suffering from the world. Suffering is often external and from some other source. Suffering from the hands of the enemy. Suffering from a hostile government. When things are dark, it is easy to hide in a bunker until all has past. It is easy to use suffering as a reason not to worship, not to be spiritual. Many of the Hebrews hung up their faith and quit because suffering was getting to the best of them. Some suffering from pressures at work. Others, it’s family tensions. In all of these, James’ words are loud and clear: THEN HE MUST PRAY. Pray for strength. Pray for things to get better. Pray for patience. Pray that you will not give up. You must pray. Don’t blame God. Don’t wish that you weren’t a Christian.
• James then moves to those who are cheerful. The cheerful are to sing praises. Suffering and cheerfulness are opposites. It’s hard to be cheerful when one is suffering. Quite often it is possible to have some in the congregation who are suffering while others are cheerful. That can be an odd arrangement. The cheerful may have a hard time understanding the suffering and those suffering are not pleased with the cheerful. The cheerful are to sing praises. They, too, are to remain connected to the Lord. They have reason to be thankful. Praise to God adorns Him and acknowledges His goodness. When things are going well it is easy to put God on the back burner. Don’t do that! It’s easy to be joyful and happy and forget about God. Don’t need Him, we may think—things are great! Sing praises! How about, “God is so good…” Or, “Jesus is all the world to me…” Or, “I love to tell the story…” Or, one of my favorite songs, “Thank you.”
• The sick are to call for help. They are sending for the elders so they can pray. There is a spiritual connection there. They may be sick spiritually. There is a strong argument for that in the following verses. They are not to pull the blinds down and complain, why doesn’t anyone visit me. They are to call. They are to call for the spiritual leaders of the congregation. They are to call for the men who have been entrusted to watch their souls. They are to call for the elders. The elders will pray for them. Being sick is not a reason to pull the plug on your relationship with the Lord.

James is showing that we are to be a spiritual person in every circumstance. Never is there a time when we don’t need God. Never is there a circumstance in which we fly solo.

Praying, singing, inviting others over to pray—these are necessary things to keep us connected and going with God.

Suffering…cheerful…sick– praying…singing…having others pray. Connected all the time. Have you tried turning the radio off and just singing hymns in the car or as you take a walk or go about housework? It makes a difference.

More praying…more singing…more fellowship with others—helps us to stay on course and keeps our faith and heart moving with God.

Roger