BOOK OF JAMES
STUDY PART 20 RIGHT AND WRONG USES OF RICHES
JAMES 5 1-6 (1) “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.
Intro- Materialism was present in James day as it is in ours. Like in previous passages, a warning is given in these verses toward the wrong uses of riches and a confidence in them which can lead to a destroyed life. This is the third time James brings instruction in this book to the rich. In Chapter 1:10, he commends the rich believers for taking their places as humble, needy sinners. There can be no forgiveness without a true sense of humble repentance. In Chapter 2:1-7, James condemns those who would show partiality to those of means who enter the sanctuary. Now, those who trust in their riches are sharply warned in this passage.
I) “The End of Riches is Misery” Vs. 1-3-“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- James uses for the second time in this book “now listen” tailored to get our attention. James has instruction for those who are wealthy brothers and wants them to listen. Money, what a blessing and what a curse. It isn’t wrong to be rich but it can be dangerous. Many of the Old Testament saints such as Abraham, Job were rich; New Testament, Joseph of Arimathaea, Barnabas, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. So, its important to keep in mind some believers today are rich and not guilty of the charges against the rich we see here. Vs. 1 “weep/wail” are used other places as the awful state of those who’s money was God and who lived selfishly. (Isa. 15:3)(Joel 1:5). We see the cry of the rich man in hell in Luke 16:19-31 as proof of this. Riches are not to be trusted. Look at our lives: economic conditions/stock market has changed from highs to lows. Wars come and the rich lose all. The Bible states, “Riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.”-Prov. 23:5. Vs. 2 “the end of riches”, your riches are corrupted (Mat 6;19-20). This speaks to us of unused riches. In Bible times, riches were not measured by stocks and bonds or large business concerns. Wealth then consisted of stores of food, clothing, gold, and silver. Is God pleased when large quantities of food spoil in our country, while others starve? (Prov 11:26). Vs. 2 “moths have eaten your clothes”-costly garments and plenty of them are the pride of the rich. It would have been better for those to be given to the poor then for them to become moth infested. Vs. 3 describes the uselessness of laying up stores. Here we see rust ruining those things which the rich trust in. Rust is a sign of disuse and unuse. Rust also speaks of destruction, for little by little it eats away things until they become useless. A loss of reward will result in those who lay up treasure for themselves on this earth.
II) “The Sins of the Rich”-Vs. 4-6 -(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.
The sin of paying poor wages in order to have more money for self in vs. 4. (Luke 12:15)(II Tim. 3:1-2). Here we see poor wages and even holding back of wages condemned (Lev. 19:13). Many rich in the past have been deaf to the cries of the oppressed, but God is not. Look at the taskmaster of Egypt who brought oppression upon the children of Israel. God heard their cry and delivered them (Ex 3:7). God gives us clear instructions as to masters and servants in Col 4:1. In vs. 5, the sin of the lavish indulged. How many people today spend their wealth to try and get happiness by gratifying their own lusts and desires. These rich people are, “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.”, -II Tim. 3:4. The rich man’s wealth is really his undoing. Look at Noah’s day, they were eating and drinking and marrying, when the flood took them away-Mat. 24:37-39. In Genesis 19, Sodom and Gomorrah were centers of sin and destroyed. Vs. 6 taking advantage of the poor- many Christians and others were taken to court by the rich (James 2:6). Because they were rich, many paid little.
Remember, if God allows us to have riches, may we be careful not to let money spoil our testimony or zeal for Christ. May we use our money as a sacred trust from God knowing that one day we must give a full account.
THE LORD’S RETURN
James 5:7-9 “(7) Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. (8) You too, be patient, and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. (9) Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Intro- Throughout the trials of life, there is a hope that comes forth from the pages of God’s Word and lives in the hearts of Gods own people. The promise that Jesus Christ is coming again has been the source of hope and encourages all of us. James directs the attention of these people under severe persecution to this hope. That early Christians believed in the return of Christ here is self evident. In view of this hope of Christ’s return, these believers were to be patient unto the coming of the Lord. The Bible has much to say about this virtue of “patience”, which is a rare jewel found only in the lives of a few. James in the opening of this epistle James 1; 2-4 had some instruction in relation to patience. Through the trying of my faith there will be found in my life, patience and endurance that can be produced in no other way.
I) “Patience in View of the Return Of Christ”- Vs. 7-8“(7) Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. (8) You too, be patient, and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. - “Be patient, brothers, “- In the first part of this verse, James directs their attention to what he was saying in verses 1-6. In view of the severe trials which they were suffering at the and of the rich, he calls upon them to be patient. This was a hard thing to do and only God could give them the grace necessary (Ps 37:7). This patience had an end in view (Acts 1:10-11). That end was the blessed hope, the return of Christ for his own children. The return of Christ will mark the beginning of judgment for those who refuse to accept Christ as Savior. It begins an eternity without God and separation into hell forever (Rev 20:11-15). However, for the child of God, the return of Christ will mean the beginning of an eternity with God (John 14:1-3). All the blessings of heaven will be our experience. The child of God is told to be looking expectantly for that blessed day (Titus 2:13)(I Cor. 1:7)(Phil 3:20)(Col. 3:4). Remember, that day is worth waiting for. The trials of life will become nothing as one views heaven and all its wonder. (I Cor. 13:12)(Rom 8:18). Paul was allowed to view heaven while in the flesh and from that time forth he longed for home (II Cor. 5:8). The glory and honor of reigning with Christ will be ours forever if we know him as Savior. The farmer is given in this verse as an example of patience. It is a long time from plowing to harvest. The farmer shows Faith and patience by sowing and waiting and expecting a harvest. He is willing to wait until the grain is ripe, then he brings in the harvest. Early and late rains reflect the crops need for water to grow. No rain at planting means little growth. But, also towards the end the crop needs rain to produce the biggest grain. Our Christian lives are like this grain seed. We would grow little if all we had were fair, sunny skies. Troubles and trials, the clouds of life, bring the rain , but there is growth in rain. God brings both sunshine and rain into our lives to develop it into a mature Christian just like the grain needs sunshine and rain in order to reach maturity.
II) “Be patient” Vs. 8-(8) You too, be patient, and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.- Here James exhorts believers to follow the example of the farmer and be patient. One doesn’t sow seed one day and harvest it the next (Heb 10:36). Here we are to grow with patience in our Christian lives. “Stand firm”-establish your hearts in KJ. This means to strengthen your hearts. Christ’s return will also strengthen your heart (II Peter 3:14-DELIGENT; Mark 13:33-PRAYERFUL; I John 3:3-PURE; Luke 21:28-HOPEFUL. The return of Christ puts hope into the life that is deep in trial and affliction (II Tim 2:12)
III) “Patience towards other Christians”- Vs. 9-(9) Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!- Israel sinned and displeased God by murmuring/complaining. We all know some people even fellow believers who are chronic complainers. They grumble when its morning, when its night, when its raining, when its bright, when its hot, when its cold, they’re too young or they’re too old. They grumble at work, at home against other Christians. “The Judge is standing at the door” Christ is here seen at the door waiting for the hour of His return to assume His position as judge. Remember all judgment has been committed unto the Son our Lord Jesus Christ-John 5:22. To place ourselves in judgment one above another is to place ourselves in the office of judge which is Christ’s alone-Math 7:1.
Are you patiently waiting for Christ’s return?