He Now Reminds Them That They Need To See Life In Terms Of The Last Day (James 4:11 to James 5:12).
From this point on until James 5:12 there will be an emphasis on judgment, and on seeing life in the light of it. The passage parallels James 1:9-12, with its references to judgment, to the rich and poor and to the frailty of the rich. It proceeds in four stages:
o First he gives a warning against judging others in view of the fact that it is God and not them Who is Lawgiver and Judge. They need therefore to recognise their humble position and control their tongues accordingly, and leave judgment to God (James 4:11-12 a).
o That is then followed by the question as to how they can possibly judge others, both in view of the difference between them and God which has previously been described (James 4:11-12 a), and in view of their own brevity of life which is like a vapour that rapidly dissipates and is gone, this being something that should especially be considered by those who live to seek gain. They need to recognise that their whole life is subject to the will of God. And he concludes by pointing out that, knowing that they ought to be doing good, for them not to do so is sin. The suggestion is therefore that in the light of their frailty they would do better by concentrating on doing good rather than on making profits (James 4:12-17).
o He then exposes those who exploit others in order to build up wealth that is in the final analysis temporary and corruptible, reminding them that they too have to face the Last Day and that the cries of those whom they exploit reach up to God (James 5:1-6).
o After that He points ahead to the Lord's coming as Judge, and advises all God's people in the light of it to wait with patience and meanwhile not to judge others (James 5:7-12).
o And finally he stresses that if they are open and honest, avoiding the devious use of oaths, they will not fall under judgment (James 5:12).
There is also another interesting pattern. Commencing with the need not to judge others because it is God Who is the Lawgiver and Judge, and ending with the reminder that He will in His own time come to judge, he sandwiches in between them what the behaviour of the rich should be in the light of it. Those who go about seeking gain rather than doing good, and those who seek to exploit others and destroy the unresisting righteous, need to consider their ways. For life is uncertain, and riches corrupt. Neither can be relied on.