God’s Word to the Rich
James 5:1-6
* Believe it or not, it is not a sin to be rich. However, we need to recognize two truths; First, when compared to this world we are ‘rich’ and next, because scripture has so much to say on the subject, we need to pay attention to this text. Let’s face it, when we read text about the rich, in America, our attention goes to money.
* Money is both neutral and needed. Money is needed because it is the currency of the culture whereby we survive. In Bible days there were the really rich, penniless poor, and few existed in between. The very reason the church took care of the widows was not because they had little but because they had nothing. Today, we see that money is needed.
* At the same time, money alone is neither good nor bad. Some would have us believe that ‘money is the root of all evil’, yet that cannot be supported in the Bible. In fact Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He (God) adds no sorrow to it.” (KJV) God does not speak out against people who have money just because they have it; the issue is much deeper than that.
* However, it is clear in scripture that the rich person has some obstacle to overcome to become a spiritual person. Let’s take the words we have just read and work backwards through the passage to hear this word to the rich.
1. The Wickedness of the Rich – When I read verses 4-6, this wickedness jumps out at me because it ends up with condemning and murdering a righteous man.
* This immediately speaks of the danger of being rich. It has been said that money talks! One comedian said, “Money talks to me alright, and always says the same thing. GOOD-BYE!”
* A.W.Tozer said: “Does it say, “Get me any way you can, even if it is exploitation?” Does it say, “Hold me tight, keep me clutch me?” If so you of all people are most miserable. Does your money say, “Spend me on yourself and no one else?” If so, it has become your master. Or does it say, “Give me away to others in the service of Jesus?” If so, you know the peace and joy that can only come from Jesus.”
* From the words of Jesus we know the “Eye of the needle principle” tells us that rich people have a difficult time getting to heaven. This is because riches, wealth, or money have a way of making us wicked. See how this happens;
a. Wickedness comes from How You Get It – When I read verse 4, I think of the word injustice or dishonesty. It is a sad time when one becomes rich by this world standard by the mistreatment of others. Whether employees, family, friends, or others. To do this will cause a great outcry like the scripture speaks like the blood of Abel. Genesis 4:10, “And He said, ‘What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.’” The outcry of the poor, the cheated, and the abused, always reaches the ears of the Father. He hears, He sees, & He responds.
b. Wickedness comes from How You Use It – To read verse 5 is to see the word “indulgence” and this is THE WORD for our culture today. We indulge ourselves.
* We do so because we have the idea that we deserve it. James talks about us living luxuriously which reminds us of Haggai’s words which we read last week. “Is it a time for you to live in luxurious houses while my work lies in ruins?” When we choose to live for ourselves and spent it only on ourselves, according to God’s word, we are readying ourselves for the Day of Judgment! Solomon said, “I have done everything under the sun for myself and then I look and it brought no profit.” Here’s the snippet; whatever we have, as God’s redeemed children, are to be used for His purposes, His Kingdom, and His work. Candidly, we can carry this truth until it is harmful, but how we use what we have determines our status before Him.
c. Wickedness comes from How You View It – Scripture does not say that ‘money is the root of all evil’ but rather ‘The LOVE of money is.” Let me offer 3 quick laws which I learned from Dr. Johnny Hunt which help us understand why our personal view of money and wealth can become wicked.
* The Law of Clarification – Psalms 24:1 tells us, “It all belongs to God.”
* The Law of Circulation – In God’s economy the earth had one theme, “GIVE”. In Genesis the sun gave, the earth gave, animals gave, man gave, & even trees gave. In Satan’s economy, we see a new concept, “get.” Man became greedy.
* The Law of Cooperation – All of God’s wealth belongs to God’s children because we are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus. We are called to cooperate with Jesus.
* The Law of Cultivation – The way to appropriate God’s wealth is to give. “Give and it will be given to you.” Luke 6:38. At the Judgment Seat, the question maybe asked, “Steward or Stingy”.
* Wealth has a way of corrupting. Sadly, the very things we ‘think’ we need and want are the very things which reveal who we are.
2. The Witness against the Rich – In a court of law, witnesses are called for both the defendant and the prosecution. Both attorneys hope to discredit the other’s witness so they can strengthen their case and prevail. The very things that the person who is ‘rich’ has focused his life on are the very things which will be called to the witness stand (on that day) to testify against Him. I see three possibilities.
a. Grain is Rotten– On several occasions I have alluded to the 3 stages of development they are, ‘green, ripe, and rot.’ The words of Jesus saying, “See the fields they are ripe (or white) for harvest” reminds us that if we don’t bring in the harvest, the fruit will rot on the vine. The word is that you have mistreated those you should be cooperating with to the point that the fruit is wasted. The rich could have used their wealth for God and good, but by hoarding it rather than sharing it – it rots.
b. Garments are Ruin – “Moth eaten clothes” are not something this generation battles. There was a day when we used moth balls to protect clothing. Back in James’ day there were no moth-balls and the picture he painted was clear to all, “If you leave your riches lying around, like your clothes, they will be worthless.
c. Gold is Rusted – This is the most interesting picture James paints. For you see, silver and gold (the real stuff) never rusts or corrodes. He says, “YOUR wealth is ruined, YOUR silver and gold are corroded.” I suggest he is speaking directly to those who have counterfeit silver and gold. It speaks to our human nature.
* He is saying to us that the very reason your grain, garments, and gold witness against you is because you are storing up treasure of the wrong kind and in the wrong place. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
* We are a rich people. If we have a house over our head, food on the table, and we are healthy; then we are rich. As rich people, where are we placing our treasure? What is it that we treasure? Is it a strong 401K or a strong 501C3? Is it personal pleasures we enjoy or people who we help? Is our treasure in the vault of the bank or the Halls of heaven?
3. The Warning for the Rich - In the writing of the epistle, several times James says to them, “Come now” which is like ‘Come on now, let’s reason together.’ He begins with, “Come on now you rich folks” and then he warns them that miseries are headed their way. Why? Because of the wickedness of their actions and the witness which will testify against them at the Judgment Seat. The rich have the obstacle of their riches to overcome because the rich tend to hold on to what they have.
* Corrie Ten Boom once said, "I have learned not to hold on to things in this life too tightly because it hurts when God pries my fingers loose from them."
* Last week in the message from Haggai, we saw that as human beings we are insatiable. In other words we never get enough. As long as we attempt to satisfy the carnal desire, we will never be satisfied.
* A man was a regular diner at a restaurant. The owner always did his best to please him. One day he complained that he only received one piece of bread with his meal, so the waiter promptly brought him four slices. The man said, "That's good, but not good enough. I love bread!" So, the next night he was given six slices with supper. He said, "Good! But aren't you still being a bit frugal?" Even a basketful the next day didn't stop the complaints. Finally, the owner decided to end this for good. The next night he had a colossal loaf of bread baked. It was six feet long, three feet wide. It took the manager and two waiters to carry it to the complainer's table. When they laid it on the table the huge loaf took up five place settings. They stood there and smiled, waiting for the man's reaction. The man looked at the gigantic loaf of bread and said, "So, we're back to ONE piece again?"
* Let us hear His words today
