Real Wealth

Context and reading scripture carefully to examine it closely is paramount to good study/learning.

I have heard it said that we can learn from everyone we meet.

Even the people who are doing seemingly everything WRONG! We learn how NOT to do it.

As we consider this passage more carefully, we shall do so by trying to answer four questions:

Who is James addressing in this passage?

What is in store for these rich people?

Why is God so angry at them?

What applications can we draw from this passage?

First off— Who is he addressing?

Who is James confronting?

Look closely:

James 1:1 (NIV)

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

James 4:11 (NIV)

11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it.

James 5:1 (NIV)

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.

James 5:7 (NIV)

7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

Whom James is addressing seems to shift here in this paragraph. He will use language that echoes back to the OT prophets. Scholars are generally agreeing that he indeed is addressing those OUTSIDE the church— there are three basic reasons for this conclusion:

He names these “rich people” by category

He uses very harsh language to speak to them: weep/wail/judgement (Woe to you)

Context of the whole bible— regarding wealth— there are a lot of warnings.

We see unrighteous, unbelieving people— and we also see people who are very wealthy, yet they are faithful people.

That leads us to conclude that it’s not really the money that is evil— James is not condemning or rejecting wealth— but what he will go after is the “use” of that wealth in the world.

Why would James suddenly change and call out the world, like people “out there”— when he’s supposed to be talking to the church in here?

A couple reasons:

He is using this tactic: To speak to a group outside the church— to make a point and teach those INSIDE the church.

-James is telling us NOT to envy the world, or rich people in it. He wants to remind us the evil.

-James was speaking to oppressed people. His audience was in need of a message of hope— James wants to remind them (and us) that God sees it all— and He knows what we are facing.

James is still addressing the Christians dispersed around the world, but he is prophetically condemning rich non-believers.

James is prophetically addressing rich non-believers. (v.1)

So how should we interact with this passage?

James’ heart is for us to have “real faith” in a “real world”. By showing us how the world rejects God’s way— By exposing all the bad ways to gain and use wealth— we will be instructed on the GODLY ways to use our resources— and how we should approach the whole idea of money.

A couple questions to keep in mind going into this section:

How does your faith shape your choices about money or lifestyle?

If you are really serious about intimacy and cooperation with God— how will you understand and use your wealth?

It’s been said that if I want to see where your heart is— look to see where your treasure is. Watch for the contrasts here— he’s addressing you, but speaking to an audience that you probably know all too well!

James 5:1 NIV

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.

These people were the oppressors. In verse two, he reveals what’s in store for them!

What is the future for these people? (v.2)

James 5:2–3 NIV

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.

Wealth and resources will rot/disintegrate

Clothing will become ruined

Gold and silver will become corroded.

These resources will all become a testimony against them— eating them up like a fire. Causing them to weep and howl, or wail.

For those with no regard for God, misery and loss is the future. (v.3)

This is a classic example of prophetic imagery. All throughout the Old Testament prophets— they use these dramatic and colorful images to get people’s attention.

James is “calling out” the unbelieving rich people of the world, for how they have hoarded or accumulated wealth for themselves.

This reveals one of the key lessons we need to understand today through this passage:

The way the world approaches wealth is to “gain” as much as they can for themselves. (v. 2-3)

Without faith we believe: “Money is security”

This mindset leads them to believe that money or resources or possessions are their security. We even call it that— at the retirement age in America we qualify for : “Social Security” You just need to get to that age, and you’ll be set… right? Some of you are at that age, and you’re probably thinking— “Nah— that’s not quite how it is...”

James says you’re “hoarding it up”. And actually when you amass such a quantity of stuff— it’s not going to keep.

It’s going to rot out. You’ll have so many clothes that you can’t even wear them all— and moths tended to get into them and eat holes in them. Even gold and silver metals will corrode and disintegrate over time.

Have you done this? Poor Wendy has tolerated this throughout our 31 wonderful years together.... Comic books, bicycles, handmade guitars, sheet music, scrap pieces of wood, more bicycles, golf clubs, sweatshirts, track shoes, a couple more guitars, books, oh my, books— My PRECIOUS… At one point I would collect things, like bicycles, and just work on them— and never even ride them! I learned how to make homemade guitars that I would never play! I have books on my shelf right now, that I may never get to read!

Why do we do this? It’s security— it’s identity. And it’s all temporary.

James is stating that ultimately— at the end of these rich people’s lives, at the end of time when we all face judgment— the whole of their possessions will be placed on the scale as a witness against them. “Your gold and silver will testify against you”. That testimony will be a life of selfish indulgence and accumulation beyond what we needed, or what we could even use or consume.

If a guitar or a bicycle or a card collection, or whatever— has been my hope and my security, my comfort— That’s just wrong.

So if “No faith: means we see money as our security”

“Real faith” means we see money as our stewardship.

Somebody gave you something— how will you use what has been given to you? What does God want you to do with what you have? How should you use it? I can’t answer for you— you are the steward of that.

Don’t feel guilty about it! If you are a Christian— and you have an abundance?

If you’ve been given a great deal to manage— Take a look at I Timothy 6:17-18

1 Timothy 6:17–18 NIV

17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Enjoy the stuff— but God’s heart for you is not to hoard it up— it’s to share it. Let it go through you. It’s a gift to be stewarded— to be managed well.

Our heart here at church— like the pastors and elder, board of directors team— Our heart for you is that you NOT act like these in the world that James is addressing— We want you to Love Jesus— and what you do with your resources will be an outpouring of that relationship.

Why is God so angry with these people?

Are you hoarding and storing up— holding it as your security? Or are you seeing what you have as an opportunity to steward for God?

Another aspect we see in this passage:

How does your faith affect your views of leadership and justice?

James 5:4 NIV

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.

Gaining wealth at the expense of someone else will bring God’s anger on us. (v.4)

In James’ time— during this early part of the churches history— landowners were getting more and more wealthy because they were abusing the people who were working for them. There were very few laws or protections, especially for Christians.

James is saying to these Christ-followers, that God Almighty sees and hears the cries of injustice. And He will settle the accounts one day.

These evil rich people were treating those who were working for them very poorly— to gain even more wealth.

How does faith affect their leadership and justice?

Without faith people may say: “It’s just business”

“That’s life man. Prices are up, profits are down, we need to make ends meet— sorry, sometimes I can pay them— sometimes not— I gotta business to run— that’s life. I’m the boss, you’re not.”

If someone says to you, “Look this is not personal, it’s just business”— You can probably guess they don’t have faith. And you’re probably getting let go. I know this may rub someone wrong— but James lays it out very clearly here— God does care how business is run— and you don’t need to search too far in the Gospel stories to see how an authentic, genuine encounter with Jesus changes everything— especially the way one does leadership— and how they view injustice toward others.

This is NOT just a big game of Monopoly— just moving my piece around the board, moving my resources, trying to get through the rat race.

That’s the American dream— and that’s fine if you’re just playing Monopoly— good deals, bad deals, good rolls of the dice, bad rolls too.

If you are a Christ-follower— IT’S NEVER JUST BUSINESS> I’m sorry. James is using these evil rich people as the example to show us a better way.

“Real faith” reminds us that life is always about people.

Actual people— a lot of us are leaders, we have influence. What would generosity look like— when life isn’t just business— but it’s about relationships and people that God deeply loves and died for?

Maybe you’re on the other side of this right now— you’re the one getting taken advantage of. Trust God.

How does your faith affect your views of relationships, people, and money?

James 5:5 NIV

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

Without faith people will say: “I get whatever I want”

Living extravagantly, without regard for those who are suffering is irresponsible. (v.5)

Without Jesus— “If I can afford it— even if I can’t afford it— I’m getting it. No lines no waiting. I deserve it.”

That just doesn’t make any sense in a kingdom mindset. It’s completely foreign to the life Jesus lived, and the guidance He gives me.

But :

“Real faith" teaches us to appreciate what we already have.

That’s contentment.

“I’m good”. I don’t need bigger, better, faster, stronger.

Deny your desire to get more.

If you can live up “here”— choose to live “down here”. Let that gap exist and actually even grow over time.

James 5:6 NIV

6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

What are the lessons we can learn from this passage?

We live in a time and in a land of abundance.

With great power and influence comes great responsibility.

We should be very thankful for what we have, and not hold it as an idol—

We should beware of coveting the wrong things.

Francis Chan, popular pastor and author once said:

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don’t matter.”

We should ask if we are laying up treasures on earth or in heaven?

Jesus shared the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14--- The faithful servants were rewarded for properly managing what the master gave them. When we begin to see the wealth AS the master— we are headed down a very difficult and disobedient path.

Those in the world who are laying up treasures on earth for themselves and a selfish luxurious lifestyle— are actually only storing up misery and wrath.

“Money is neither my god nor my devil. It is a form of energy that tends to make us more of who we already are, whether it’s greedy or loving.” —Dan Millman, Author and Gymnastics coach

Remember, James is using this section of his letter to remind us that God sees everything, God will make things right in the end, and so we should live in that context. He is so good to us, and we can trust Him for our future.