James 5:1-6
Dear friends,
This Sunday we come to James 5:1-6 which serves as a warning concerning the wrath of God against economic injustice, indulgent living at the expense of others, and trusting in our own strength for purpose in life. This is a dreadful passage of how God will judge those who know the right path but choose to ignore it. James sounds like one of the Old Testament prophets who tell the people of God that the wicked will not last forever, that God is not indifferent to their suffering, and warn the rich that they will be judged for their selfish hoarding and trust in money.
In our rich country, relative to the third world, we are all doing pretty well. Yet Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 is a plain warning against looking to riches for satisfaction; truly, he who loves money is never satisfied with it. We know that the more we get the more we want for “no thing” can satisfy our poverty of spirit. The true question in life is how can we be made right before the holy and living God?
Jesus is very plain in Matthew 6:19-24 about the stupidity of laying up wealth to bring us peace and joy. Here is what we are to do with our wealth: 1 Timothy 6:17-19 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Discuss the characteristics of selfish living seen in this passage. Do we have these attitudes? How can we use God’s blessing, be it little or small, for the good of others in helping the poor, giving to ministries, and living simply?
I see here also the surety of God’s judgment. It is a fearful thing to fall onto the hands of the living God. May this scripture sober us to the reality of His righteous judgment and cause us even more to cling to the righteousness found only in Christ. May Jesus give us wisdom through His Spirit to apply this serious teaching to our handling of money.
See you Sunday,
Lee