1. The Pressure of Retaliation
Pressure Points

2. INTRODUCTION
Have you suffered injustice before? What is your gut response?
3 STEPS TO OVERCOME THE PRESSURE OF RETALIATION AGAINST INJUSTICE

3. Step 1. Know that God is angry at those who treat you unjustly (5:1-6)
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 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. 

4. Step 1. Know that God is angry at those who treat you unjustly (5:1-6)
What happens when the rich and powerful bully you (5:1-3)
God is passionately with you when you suffer unjustly
The rich and powerful who bully you are nothing before God. Their wealth and power will be gone.
God will bring misery upon those who treat you unjustly.

5. Step 1. Know that God is angry at those who treat you unjustly (5:1-6)
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self- indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 

6. Step 1. Know that God is angry at those who treat you unjustly (5:1-6)
Why God will bring misery to the rich and powerful (1:4-5)
Non-payment and underpayment
Story of Andrew Carnegie
Story of Dan Price, Gravity Payments

7. Step 1. Know that God is angry at those who treat you unjustly (5:1-6)

8. Step 1. Know that God is angry at those who treat you unjustly (5:1-6)
6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Those in power condemn others who do them no harm
Injustice not limited to above list
Injustice does not refer to oversensitivity, but to real wrongs

9. Step 2. Know that Jesus will give you justice when he judges the world (5:7-9)
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 

10. Step 2. Know that Jesus will give you justice when he judges the world (5:7-9)
Judgment is time of rejoicing because the victim finds justice
The world is not where we expect justice because it favors the rich and powerful
When we expect justice, we demand full accountability NOW
When we do not expect justice at all, we retaliate against injustice
When we expect justice from God we find peace

11. Step 2. Know that Jesus will give you justice when he judges the world (5:7-9)
“9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!”
Don’t turn on each other in your suffering
You too face judgment if you direct your anger towards those around you

12. Step 2. Know that Jesus will give you justice when he judges the world (5:7-9)
Romans 12 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 
The limits of the lex talionis (law of retaliation)
Do not invite judgment on yourself after you have become a victim

13. Step 3. You can turn your suffering into joy (5:10-11)
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

14. Step 3. You can turn your suffering into joy (5:10-11)
Embrace the sufferings because you can turn them into blessings

15. Step 3. You can turn your suffering into joy (5:10-11)
James 1:2 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature [perfect] and complete, not lacking anything.

16. Step 3. You can turn your suffering into joy (5:10-11)
There is joy at the end of the trial (like Job)
There is also joy in the trial (James 1:2ff)

17. Step 3. You can turn your suffering into joy (5:10-11)
Example of joy in the midst of trial
Acts 16 22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

18. CONCLUSION
When you suffer injustice, God’s judgment is against those who bully you
You will receive your justice from God – leave room for God’s vengeance
You can turn your suffering into joy when they you to perfection: joy in suffering; returning good for evil