James 5:1-6

Emphasis

Chapter 4

come now

boasting

submitting

Perspective

v. 1a, Regarding the unbelieving rich man...

come now

weep and howl

not a change mood, but understanding...

weep… solemn, lamenting position

...wail… accompanied by outbursts of grief and terror

Luke 12:15 NKJV

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Rich young ruler

Heart on worldly treasures

Riches and worldly cares choking the seed

To the believer

this reality ought to encourage us toward proper living, in our spiritually rich position, knowing the effect of the antithetical lifestyle

v. 1b, …a warning

…the end is perilous

the temporal concludes to the eternal

v. 2-3, Why

General possessions

Earthly things are eaten up, their nature is to become nothing

Monetary possessions

corruption, tarnishing

and so they also corrupt and tarnish those they hold

Conversation with Doctor

v3b-6, How

“Heaped up”

Those who aimlessly, greedily, and unjustly hoard riches, things

“Fraud”

unfair business, payment

“cries… reached… the Lord of Sabaoth (Hosts)”

rest after work

“pleasure, luxury, fattening”

fulfillment of desires, experience of “grandeur,”

gain, resulting in nothing (eternal) except death, worth nothing to you dead

“condemned, murdered”

false accusation, condoning of destruction for self-gain

…even those who never wronged you

Focus

1 Timothy 6:17–19 NKJV

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

There are many things that money cannot buy

bed, not sleep

books, not brains

food, not appetite

finery not beauty

house, not home

medicine, not health

pleasure, not peace

luxuries, not culture

amusements, not joy

crucifix, not savior

church building, not heaven