Every Deed

Every Deed
James the half brother of Jesus said,
"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." James 5:1-6
Christianity is at its core not only the way to heaven but it is very much concerned with well being of the individual. James in the above scripture issuing a warning to the wealthy who have not been honest. Men and women who have lived in luxury and self-indulgence at the expense of others.
Jesus also issued such a warning saying,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31.
This is something anyone who has power be it political, religious, or a business owner employing people, needs to consider carefully. You might get away with mistreating those under you in this world but as the writer of the writer of Ecclesiastes states,
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14. 
And Gods judgement is just, final, and eternal.
Please think about it.

Submit, Resist, be Humble

Submit, Resist, be Humble
James writes to followers of Jesus,
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. 
Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.  
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” James 4:7-12.
Here is something all who claim to be followers of Christ need to think about. Do you submit yourself to God? Do you resist the devil?
James tells us to “Come near to God and he will come near to you” He calls us to purify ourselves. To “grieve mourn and wail”
By this is I feel James is telling us we need to be so ashamed of our sins of the way we at times fail God,  that we cry out to God in all humility and tell Him we are truly sorry for our failings. In doing so God will lift us up. As someone has said it takes a strong person to admit their faults even to God.
As Christians we are to remember that it is not our place to slander or judge anyone. Jesus said,
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2.
We as mere mortals do not know what is in the hearts of other people. We do not know what makes them do things. Only God knows that, that is why God and God alone has the right to judge anyone.
The believer in Christ is called to live a good and holy life acceptable to God. A life that reaches out with the gospel to those around them in word and in deed.
Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
Jesus also said,
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  
It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  
I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.  Matthew 24:45-46.
Question, do you consider yourself a good servant of Jesus? Are you doing what God wants you to do?
Please think about it.