Justice Deferred: The Hollow Promise of Wealth

Bible Passage: James 5:1–6

James 5:1–6 “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

Big Idea: God calls us to pursue justice and integrity over wealth, for true riches are found not in what we possess but in how we reflect Christ through our actions, advocating for the oppressed and living in righteousness toward others.

Illustration:

Mark 12:41–44 “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.””

1. Dissolving Riches, Eternal Truths

James 5:1–2 “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.”

Come now, you rich - James style is that of the prophets pronouncing doom on pagan nations. -PNTC

rich - are wealthy land owners vs 4 who are keeping the wages of their laborers by fraud. They are condemned not simply for their wealth; they are condemned for the way they use their wealth. Applying the passage to all wealthy people would be misreading the text at the same time we must remember that 1 Timothy 6:10 “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” as well as Matthew 6:24 ““No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

James explains his pronouncement of condemnation against the rich in 4 different ways.

vs2-3 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. They have more than they can possibly use and are not willing to share with others. Selfish desire of more has taken over and they hoard what they have.

Growing up Levi jeans and Air Jordan shoes were all the style. And man did I want a pair. My freshman year in high school my mom began allowing me to purchase my own clothes. She would give me some money and I could pick out what I wanted but I only got what she had budgeted for clothing.

That summer, I went to my Aunts house to visit and while I was there we were going to the mall in Beaumont to do some school shopping, get a hair cut and do some other things for my grandparents. As we were cleaning out some stuff in my grandmothers house we found a set of hair clippers and I had my Aunt cut my hair so I could keep the money from the hair cut and have a little more money for the clothes I wanted. My desire to fit in with clothing that was “cool” that wouldn’t likely fit in a month or two given the way teenage boys grow got me a ridiculous hair cut. My selfish desire to have what others had took over. I looked ridiculous but hey I had the clothes I wanted and I was willing to do anything for apparently.

Matthew 19:16–22 “And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

Acts 5:1–11 “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.”

vs 4 kept back wages by fraud- holding the wage of their labors they cry out against them to the Lord of hosts.

1 Timothy 5:18 “For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.””

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”

Revelation 21:8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.””

vs 5 They have lived self indulgently and in luxury fattening their hearts

Luke 21:34 ““But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation (Self Indulgence) and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.”

1 Timothy 5:5–6 “She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.”

Matthew 23:25 ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.”

vs 6 they have abused “the righteous”

Luke 10:30–37 “Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.””

We shouldn’t be caught off guard by what happens to the rich with the judgement James has pronounced. Those who transgress Gods law will reap condemnation. Though they may think they have not miseries to weep and cry over, just wait. Judgment comes and even your wealth can’t save you.

Summary : James isn’t condemning a monetary value of being rich notice only the word rich is used but the temptation it brings. You can be monetarily poor but yet not willing to share having a selfish desire for more, holding back money for your self or stealing resources like time, living lavishly even beyond your means and even condemning and killing those who would try to live right. Remember as Isaiah 40:8“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Dissolving Riches, Eternal Truths

2. Decaying Wealth, Loud Witness

James 5:3–4 “Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.”

When I was growing up there was a guy who flew RC Planes. He had some really cool stuff and I really admired him for what he had. He had a saying or the first time I recall hearing this saying that “He who dies with the most toys wins.” He has since died and where are his toys? Corroded and worthless.

James continuing his condemnation against material wealth as he told us about agricultural products (wealth), rotting clothes and now he broadens his condemnation toward precious metals.

Matthew 6:19 ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,”

Job 13:28 “Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.”

Not only have the rich placed their confidence in things that pass away, they have stolen and kept back wages that the Laborers have rightfully earned. Their cries as they struggle without have reached the Lords ears and he hears the injustice.

Summary: Wealth decays and is aloud witness to those who rob those in need.

3. Decadence Downfall, Divine Call

James 5:5–6 “You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

James continues his sharp explanation of the “misery that is coming on” the rich and now he condemns their luxury and self-indulgence.

Luke 16:19–31 ““There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’  And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’  And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

Luke 23:32-33; 39–43 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.””

Summary: James accurately critiques the rich for their oppressive actions towards the poor, illuminating the moral decay that accompanies unchecked greed. He paints a sobering picture of wealth that is transient, emphasizing that material riches are not only fleeting but also contribute to the suffering of others, establishing a direct relationship between ethical behavior and divine judgment that resonates throughout the passage.