James 5:1-6

Warning to the rich

last week we covered a group of people that get called out for not seeking the Lord in all their works.

this week we start the last chapter and there is a warning for the rich.

The Letters of James and Peter The Worthlessness of Riches (James 5:1–3)

IN the first six verses of this chapter, James has two aims—first, to show the ultimate worthlessness of all earthly riches, and, second, to show the detestable character of those who possess them. By doing this, he hopes to prevent his readers from placing all their hopes and desires on earthly things.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible B. The Dangers of Wealth (5:1–6)

John Calvin pertinently isolates two main reasons: James “… has a regard to the faithful, that they, hearing of the miserable end of the rich, might not envy their fortune, and also that knowing that God would be the avenger of the wrongs they suffered, they might with calm and resigned mind bear them.”

James 5:1 ESV

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

James 5

this is interesting.... we do not see them being regarded as brothers here but we see ‘you rich’. this is how James chooses to identify them. it appears this text is written about the rich that are living around the Christians and are the ones oppressing them.

the label rich..... has a history to itself.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James B. Misusing Wealth and Power Brings God’s Judgment (5:1–6)

God’s concern for the poor is reflected in many of the Mosaic laws that give direction to the people of Israel as they live in covenant relation with their God. In Israel’s later history, these laws were often ignored, and the poor were oppressed and taken advantage of by wealthy, powerful officeholders and landholders. As a result, the term “rich” can occasionally be used as a synonym for “the unrighteous” (cf. ; ). The prophets take up the theme, frequently denouncing the socioeconomic oppression being practiced by the wealthy (see Amos especially).

but why would James write to rich people that may never read this letter to the church?

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible B. The Dangers of Wealth (5:1–6)

John Calvin pertinently isolates two main reasons: James “… has a regard to the faithful, that they, hearing of the miserable end of the rich, might not envy their fortune, and also that knowing that God would be the avenger of the wrongs they suffered, they might with calm and resigned mind bear them.”

so to see the oppressors being called out here by James....it may help the believer get through the struggles that they are facing. think about this in your situation..... what if you were told of the future of a person that was hurting you? that it would not be good for them.

or maybe someone that you might see as having it all in this world but they don’t have Christ?

These rich have something to worry about..... the way James puts this, the words he uses connects with how the prophets spoke about evil people.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James B. Misusing Wealth and Power Brings God’s Judgment (5:1–6)

God’s concern for the poor is reflected in many of the Mosaic laws that give direction to the people of Israel as they live in covenant relation with their God. In Israel’s later history, these laws were often ignored, and the poor were oppressed and taken advantage of by wealthy, powerful officeholders and landholders. As a result, the term “rich” can occasionally be used as a synonym for “the unrighteous” (cf. Prov. 10:15–16; 14:20). The prophets take up the theme, frequently denouncing the socioeconomic oppression being practiced by the wealthy (see Amos especially).

words that we need to look a bit deeper into.

The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James B. Misusing Wealth and Power Brings God’s Judgment (5:1–6)

See, for example, Isa. 13:6: “Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty”; cf. also, e.g., Isa. 15:3; Amos 8:3). In fact, ololyzō (“wail”) is found only in the prophets in the OT and always in the context of judgment (Isa. 10:10; 13:6; 14:31; 15:2–3; 16:7; 23:1, 6, 14; 24:11; 52:5; 65:14; Jer. 2:23; 31:20, 31; Ezek. 21:17; Hos. 7:14; Amos 8:3; Zech. 11:2).

this word wail really means more like to shriek....as in those whom are in terror of the judgement of God coming upon them.

what would shrieking and howling under the judgement of God sound like?

James is going to show us.....

4 ways that these rich people were not using their wealth in a Godly way.

hoarding their wealth

failure to pay their workers what they owed them

self-indulgent lifestyle

using their power to condemn and murder

J

James 5:2 ESV

Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.

these people were rich. and rich with many things. this is a perfect picture of hoarding. the items are sitting around, not being used and going bad. imagine having an abundance of perishable food..... hoarding it and not being able to use it all. it goes bad after a time. Some had a wealthy amount of corn and grain. also many garments of clothes. the rich were the only ones that had many.

we also see the riches of gold and silver.

James 5:3 ESV

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.

their gold and silver corrode. a picture of the ultimate valueless of currency. and this hoarding is connected with what is in their heart which is destroying them. they have lived for money.....

Jesus tells us what to go after in this world in Matt.

Matthew 6:19 ESV

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

Matthew 6:20 ESV

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

we are called to build treasures in heaven..... and we do this by allowing God to work through us.....treasures that cannot be destroyed! a heavenly investment.

and look what James says in verse 3.....the corrosion of the riches will eat your flesh like fire!

James 5:3 ESV

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.

what have they really done? to themselves? their thirst for riches has destroyed them! these types of people who are living for riches in this world do not have love for people but uses them for their own profit as we will see.....

James 5:4 ESV

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.

we find here that they are employers. in those days they were to pay their workers at the end of the day. , paid before sunset. also, the day laborers were living day to day so if they were not paid, they did not feed their family, possibly being guilty of murder.

we see not just the workers crying out, but the wages also. another picture of their money having a negative effect on them. actually, it is because of the way they use their money. they are not giving people. they are selfish and unfair. imagine. these rich are not looking to the Lord on how to use their money for sure.

James 5:5 ESV

You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

they have it all. all the fancy stuff the world offered. and they went to extremes enjoying it. Proverbs tells us that those who trust in riches will fall. how much of a fall is this? the day of slaughter! this was symbolic of the time of Gods judgment. (; )

sometimes we may envy people who seem to have a lot in this world. these verses are pointing at people that may seem to have a lot, but they really don’t when they don’t have Christ!

James 5:6 ESV

You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

how could they? what have they done to the righteous?

we see here that these rich are treating others wrong. yet another reason for looking at this group of rich as unbelievers. why would Christian believers be involved in murdering?

the other thing we can pick up from this verse is the response to the poor treatment. even though the Christian is being mistreated..... they come across as Christ like. not resisting an evil person is not stooping to their level. it is taking the higher ground. Christ in us will lead us in this way. as in Matthew it says.

39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

and Romans says

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

this is certainly not easy. none of us like to go through hard times, being treated wrong. But trusting our God....and that He can do something in the situation.......is the place for us.

God has called us to a walk that becomes a testimony of His power. Just as these Christians in James showed the power of God to the rich.