James has just spoken of the corporate abuse of employers who have fattened their coffers on the backs of their workers. Unthinkable in his day and equally unthinkable in ours. In spite of all the rhetoric surrounding financial abuse and the need to address the inequalities, those who are the policy makers find themselves disconnected from those whom they seek to champion. Frankly they just cannot relate. Platitudes and hand shakes mean little to a single mother seeking to raise her young children

So what do you do when you feel helpless to do anything about it? The central issue for James and for us is summed up in Proverbs 4:23, “Guard your heart with all diligence for out of it springs the issues of life”. He lays out some areas where we need to guard our heart from things such as bitterness, anger, envy or even hatred.

“Be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord” (7). The fruit of patience will come as certainly as it will for the farmer who waits for the precious fruit after the early and latter rain. The ripened fruit is the “coming of the Lord which is near at hand”. (8) The appeal to a higher authority than merely human authority will restore justice. Therefore he says to “strengthen your hearts” and not become embittered by injustice.

An unguarded heart leads only to grumbling and complaining. (9) It easily becomes a way of life that finds its way into other relationships. James admonition is found in the way of an imperative. “Do not grumble/complain against one another” because God is not deaf or silent.  “The Judge stands at the door”. (9)

Emulate the saints, such as the prophets and Job, when things get hard, especially in the things of the Lord. Keep these people before you when you want to complain or even give up. They provide examples of suffering and patience, of perseverance. The Lord showed them compassion and mercy (11) and if to them so also to others.

Verse 12 may seem unusual unless seen in the context of the preceding verses. Desperate people in desperate situations will make rash vows. “If you get me out of this I will …”. You fill in the blanks because most of us have done it. People make promises that easily become broken or ignored when life’s situations change. “But above all, brethren, do not swear/vow, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No’ lest you fall into judgement”. God may just take you at your word and hold you to account for these vows.

So what do you do when things get tough and injustice seems prevalent? Strengthen your own heart, entrust your life to a compassionate and merciful Judge, place your patience and hope in Him who will return and restore all things. He is near at hand. Look for Him for He is near!