The Danger of Wealth
James 5:1-3
5 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 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 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Part of the oppression of the early Christians was not only by force but also through financial means. But James calls them to literally weep and wail, because their riches are only fleeting. Fancy clothes get eaten by moths and fancy cars eventually rust and end up in the scrap yard. And one day those who have lived with the only goal of wealth accumulation will see the futile nature of riches in and of themselves.
On top of this, these rich folks were exploiting the poor among them, including those working for them. They even went as far as to condemn and murder those who could not defend themselves. When James says specifically, "you have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you", many assume this to be Jesus the innocent Lamb of God. Or, it could be the body of Christ, who they are persecuting like they did the Son of God.
In the end James is writing to encourage persecuted Christians, and letting know that the cries of the innocent don't go unheard. One day the oppressors will face the harvest of their righteousness and will face the day of their own slaughter. As children of God and as the body of Christ, we need to continue to hears the cries of the innocent ones who are being oppressed. As we see around the world today, many live in abject poverty and one of the main reasons for it is the gulf between the rich and the poor. This is not to condemn people who are rich, but a system in which the poor are exploited and kept down. It is easy for those of us who live in affluent areas to not hear the voices of those who need help, but we too need to be careful to not fall into trap of material possessions. One day we will be accountable for what we have given, and whether or not we have protected the little ones who cannot defend themselves.
5 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 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 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
Part of the oppression of the early Christians was not only by force but also through financial means. But James calls them to literally weep and wail, because their riches are only fleeting. Fancy clothes get eaten by moths and fancy cars eventually rust and end up in the scrap yard. And one day those who have lived with the only goal of wealth accumulation will see the futile nature of riches in and of themselves.
On top of this, these rich folks were exploiting the poor among them, including those working for them. They even went as far as to condemn and murder those who could not defend themselves. When James says specifically, "you have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you", many assume this to be Jesus the innocent Lamb of God. Or, it could be the body of Christ, who they are persecuting like they did the Son of God.
In the end James is writing to encourage persecuted Christians, and letting know that the cries of the innocent don't go unheard. One day the oppressors will face the harvest of their righteousness and will face the day of their own slaughter. As children of God and as the body of Christ, we need to continue to hears the cries of the innocent ones who are being oppressed. As we see around the world today, many live in abject poverty and one of the main reasons for it is the gulf between the rich and the poor. This is not to condemn people who are rich, but a system in which the poor are exploited and kept down. It is easy for those of us who live in affluent areas to not hear the voices of those who need help, but we too need to be careful to not fall into trap of material possessions. One day we will be accountable for what we have given, and whether or not we have protected the little ones who cannot defend themselves.
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