My Friend James: Heavy Sigh

James 5:9 [KJV] Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. It seems like “grudge” is being used as a verb here. Does it mean “don’t hold a grudge” against each other? The New King James says, “do not grumble”. Which seems to me to say something entirely different.

The Greek word used here means “to sigh, to groan”. We sign or groan when we get frustrated or impatient with something, don’t we? So, I wonder, is James saying that we should not allow our brothers and sisters in Christ to frustrate us to the point of sighing or groaning about it?

The writer of Hebrews uses the same word here: Hebrews 13:17 [KJV] Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.

So, while Hebrews tells us not to cause those who rule over us any grief (same Greek word as is translated “grudge” or “grumble” in James 5), James tells us not to be grieved by our brethren.

James 5:9 [CSB] 9 Brothers and sisters, do not complain about one another, so that you will not be judged. Look, the judge stands at the door!

It would seem that our friend James is really counseling us to be patient with one another and also not to be the kind of person that causes grief to others. That’s fair.

Interestingly, the Bible also offers us acceptable “groaning” as Christians.

Romans 8:22-23 [NKJV] 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only [that], but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

The people of God, along with the world He created, groan for the Kingdom and to exchange these mortal bodies for the immortal ones we are promised.

2 Corinthians 5:4-5 [NLT] 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

So, if the condition of this world – the mess we have made of the planet itself, the oppression we see or hear about, the dysfunctional nature of so many human institutions or personal health issues due to the limitations of a mortal body – cause you to give out a heavy sigh or even a groan, that is no less than God would expect. It should lead us to pray “Thy Kingdome come” with earnestness and fervor.

But if your fellow brethren, who struggle as you do, cause you to give out impatient sighs and groanings, please be sure to cut them a break as they are likely dealing with the messes of their lives and this world just like you.

And try not to be the kind of person who causes others to groan, especially to your fellow brethren, even though they, like you, should be working on patience and understanding with one another.  We all may seem slow to change when others look at us and our spiritual progress, but we need to remember that God is working in each one at His own pace and ours.

We are so close to the end of our time in the book of James. Where shall we go next? Is there a book of the Bible you’d like to explore together? I am considering the book of Matthew or the messages of John (not just his gospel but also 1, 2 and 3 John).

You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org