James Post #14 – James 5:1-6

Today, we’ll begin looking at the last chapter in James’ Epistle to the saints around the world.  This will be a three part study focusing on 3 types of ‘Riches’.  Today we will deal with the topic of being ‘Rich in Gold and Silver’ covered in James 5: 1-6.  In other words, we’re going to talk about money!  James includes warnings to those James called rich oppressors.  The second post of the three will deal with being ‘Rich in Patience’ and will deal with verses 7-12.  The final post from our study in James will cover verses 13-20 and bears the title ‘Rich in Faith’.  So let’s get started.  Please read James 5:1-6 in your own Bible and don’t forget to pray and ask God to open your eyes to the truth in His word today BEFORE you read a word!  Boy, I’m so bossy aren’t I?

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon 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 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.  ⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  ⁶ You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

– Rich in Gold and Silver - Warning to Rich Oppressors

¹Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.  ² Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.

I don’t believe that God is saying He is against money or wealth.  I believe that it is God who makes such a thing possible and He blesses some in special ways when it comes to income.  Here’s where the problem is which James addresses right away in this final chapter.  His warning is strongly worded, speaking of weeping and wailing, and he uses the warning of “the misery that is coming upon you.”  It’s like he is saying that you might as well start weeping and wailing right now because things will be so desperate for you later.  James’ problem with people of wealth is that many of them amass it, keep it, or in James own words, hoard it.  When God blesses us with talents, finances, and any of a number of other gifts He does so with the requirement that we use these things to further His kingdom, to help others in need, to use them to spread the Gospel that others might come to know Him as well.  In verse 2 James reminds people that their wealth and their “stuff” won’t last.  He speaks about rotting and being moth eaten.  James is trying to make a strong point.   When we are blessed those blessings are given to you to use for Him.   

 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.

           

James says in verse 3 that actions of keeping His blessings for ourselves to use solely for our own selfish desires will stand as a testimony of our sinful acts.  It is in this verse that he specifically uses the word “hoarded”.  Think about this idea for just a minute.  If someone simply stores away, hoards, things like wealth or possessions they become useless things don’t they?  They just sit there and accomplish nothing good.  I’m sure you must have thought at one time or another about people of great wealth, maybe famous athletes, Hollywood stars or business tycoons and had similar thoughts.  If they would just use a small portion of their wealth think of the good they could do.  While that is true for some of them it’s probably true for us as well.  Are we trying to store everything away to use later or are we using even a portion of what we have been blessed with to bless others.  James goes on in verse 4 to give some specifics related to his historical time but there are applications of us today as well.  If you haven’t already thought of it, turn to the Gospel of Luke and read Jesus’ Parable of the Rich fool found in Chapter 12, verses 13-21.

⁴Look! 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.  

The concept here is that you have gained your riches at expense of others.  God demands honesty from His children: dishonesty, exaggeration, deceit, misinformation…all are sin!  We are told that we need to pay a fair wage to “the workmen”.  I bet you can think of applications of this principle for our time.   Are we honest in our business dealings?  Do we seek to pay a fair wage for work done for us or are we willing to take advantage, to exaggerate, to “forget” to mention something regarding an item we are selling?  Basically, are we being honest?  Here’s a great way to check.  If Jesus was sitting there next to you how do you think he would like what you were doing?  New flash.  If you are a believer, he is!

⁵ You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

There is no place full self-indulgent luxury in the heart of a Christian.  God calls us to share what we have with those in need.  Remember, what we have is on loan from God.  It’s His wealth, on loan to us to manage.  He is trusting you with His wealth.  He expects you to invest it in His kingdom with those you see in need.  Don’t let Him down.  I’m sure you remember the story of the Parable of the Talents found in Matthew 25:14-30.

 ⁶ You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Many would say, “Hey, I’ve never murdered anybody!”   Check out what Jesus says in Matthew 5:21-22A.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”

So Jesus said that if we are angry with our brother, if we hate them, it’s like we’d like to see them dead.  There’s the rub.  Jesus says if that is the attitude in our hearts then we are in violation of God’s law.  

Riches, wealth, inheritance, “my share” cause more problems between families and “friends” than almost everything else.  Finances are usually listed as the number one cause of troubles within a marriage.  I have seen this in my family (detailed in earlier posts) and in my neighbors’ lives as well as within the church family where I served as pastor.  God knew that money would be a major problem for us here on earth.  You may be reminded of another very familiar passage which talks about this.  It’s found in 1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  Be sure to take note that it’s not money that is the problem, it’s the “love of money” that get us into trouble.  I’m thinking that we’ve all got some things to chew on from James today.  I know that I do.  Until next post, don’t hang on too tight to what God gives you.  He wants you to give it away for Him and His work.  God’s best to y’all.