Lesson 8J - Living the Life James 5:1-

Hidden Danger of Riches 5:1- 6

New American Standard Bible (1977) Misuse of Riches

5:1 “

Editors note: “As we try to throw a little variety in your diet of Bible texts, this is the latest for your reading, the NASB of 1977. As it says above, it is the New American Standard Bible. It received updates in 1995, 1977, and more recently in this century of the 20’s. I have found it to be reliable, trustworthy, and accurate in every situation. From what my understanding continues to be, I have heard that it is more literally accurate than most available versions. It is not my daily version that I use as mine disappeared over 20 years ago. I started reading it during a challenge to read another Bible version for my devotional reading around 1982. I continued to read the King James Version(KJV) for study purposes and memory work. My library for the first 45 years was built around the KJV, though I truly enjoyed the NASB. I also enjoy the ESV. There are several versions I would trust to my students as long as they are accurate and represent the entire ministry of Jesus in a perfect light. Always compare what you are reading with an older text, such as the KJV. - PL

The Trouble with Riches 5:1-6

We rarely see the rich in a position of weeping and howling in misery. They are pictured in a scene of luxury and ease, or we are given a glimpse of some of their possessions: their crib, their rides, their entourage, their drugs, their excesses, their toys, the yachts, and the playgrounds. The person trying to sell you on how wonderful their life is merely trying to sell a product, an article in a publication, or a news piece in how this person has changed peoples lives. For every Travis Kelch and Taylor Swift, whose millions are mind boggling, there are also countless miseries associated with the life of the super rich.

When this was written by James, I’m sure the average person had another idea what being rich was all about. Richness, was not just about gold and silver, but also crops, cattle, vineyards, and land. All of this richness has to have a caretaker of some type to keep it earning income, or it will sit and rot if it remains seated long enough. Misery from riches is always waiting in the wings. Unattended, riches will turn to rust and stink. Maybe it doesn’t seem right that most lottery winners are bankrupt within the first year or two of their winning, but once they attain that status, it needs regular maintenance. Even a new car, if it sits without use for an extended period of time can experience mouse eaten wires or nests, corrosion of metal surfaces, degraded gas in the tank, dead batteries, rotted tires, and discouragement over depreciation of value. Sitting at ease that results in being much less than new, is truth we all have to face. There is such a thing that comes with the purchase of expensive goods that is called “buyers remorse.”

Think about the array of words used to describe the misery of the rich:

Rotted riches( the bulk of your property, land and livestock that makes up your wealth) vs.2

Moth eaten garments. vs.2

Rusted gold and silver. This would be the effects of “tarnish.” vs.3

Rust used as a witness against you. “Tarnished testimony.” vs.3

Fire consumed flesh. vs.3

Treasure stored up for a wrong time. vs.3 Preppers gone wrong.

Loud unhappy employees. vs. 4 (So bad that the Lord of the Harvest has heard.)

Luxurious living and wanton pleasure has given you heart trouble. The term “day of slaughter” means your heart is getting blockages literally within a 24 hour day. As others are falling because of your unaccountability, your own heart is troubled. vs.5

You have killed a righteous man who did not resist you. Hmm. vs.6

The next time you envy the guy who wins the lottery, perhaps he needs prayer more than anything. Without an immense amount of work, accountability, proper stewardship, and constant vigilance, riches will not be the friend that you imagined they were going to be. In fact, if you study the parable of the prodigal, you find close in, that the friends the son attracted with cash, left him quickly when his tap ran dry. I think we get the picture that “being content with such things as we have” is the best way to go. Many times we have declared in this class that the best thing to help you be at peace and able to sleep at night is to have a clear conscience. It is something that money or Mastercard cannot buy.

The big, big picture in these six verses would be the condemnation and judgement that is coming on those who have committed murder while drowning in their cash. Who knows whose life we have taken because of the misery of riches. The end result is a bad time on the day of judgement. We are not saying all rich people are bad and evil. Not by any stretch of the imagination. The righteous rich ones will tell you that their riches have a weariness that no one will understand. And, that proper methods of stewardship must occur so that the poor are not oppressed and even killed through the bullying power of the ungodly rich. We have always known godly people with wealth who have shown great grace to those around them through their benevolence and help in their lifetime.

The Lord Jesus can use the gifts of the very extravagant to accelerate the kingdom of God. Their giving can be an exciting capstone to a rich life that brought the gospel to others with great speed and excellence. Church auditoriums are built, Christian endeavors are hastened, ministries are birthed and thrived because of the gifts that some have laid anonymously at the foot of the cross. If God owns the cattle on a thousand hills, sometimes He has a rancher sell some of the cattle to bless the people. While big gifts are kingdom accelerators, they are not always the best gifts. Check out Mark 12:41 onward:

English Standard Version Chapter 12

41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 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. 44 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

I am thinking that one of the marks of integrity of her gift was her boldness to give her half cent in the face of the pressure of the large gift. The rich had become almost arrogant bullies as they used their large sums as influence. Jesus is pointing out her courage and faith to give when she in fact was needier that the synagogue she gave to. Her gift was to God and not to man. When you give your everything, The Lord Jesus Christ takes notice. As she had given without great fanfare the Lord will reward her openly. Rich or poor, and everyone in between, the Lord knows who and where we are. Every time offerings are taken, the rich and poor meet together and the time is intended as an event to give glory to God because we have given as the Lord has commanded. And we did it in unity. It is there that the Lord commands the blessing. Let us pray towards that blessing of the rich and the poor using their gifts for Christ’s eternal glory. Right now we could take up an offering but I will be satisfied with an “Amen, amen!”