James 5:4-6

Yesterday, we have taken a look at verses of chapter 5: 1-3 of the book of James teaching us about the consequences of lusting after worldly riches.Today we shall focus on the continuing verses 4-6.

[But] look! [Here are] the wages that you have withheld by fraud from the laborers who have reaped your fields, crying out [for vengeance]; and the cries of the harvesters have come to the ears of the Lord of hosts.

[Here] on earth you have abandoned yourselves to soft (prodigal) living and to [the pleasures of] self-indulgence and self-gratification. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

You have condemned and have murdered the righteous (innocent man). [while] he offers no resistance to you.

                    - James 5:4-6(Amplified Bible)

Here James speaks of the evils of going after worldly pleasures. Anything and everything in this life is sure to affect us. But it very much depends on the choice we make - whether we choose to go on the right path or the wrong. And going after money is surely treading on dangerous waters. Why? Here in James 5:4, the Lord clearly shows us what the nature of the people changes to when they crave riches - they, in the greed of wanting more money, not only pile up their own wealth but also hold back the wages and salaries of those who have earnestly worked for them. How many people do you know that do this? When we enter the commerical street, we get to see many examples as

James 5: 1-3 Being filthy rich and true riches

Being filthy rich and true riches

 

COME NOW, you rich [people], weep aloud and lament over the miseries (the woes) that are surely coming upon you.

Your abundant wealth has rotted and is ruined,and your [many] garments have become moth-eaten.

Your gold and silver are completely rusted through, and their rust will be testimony against you and it will devour your flesh as if it were fire. You will have heaped together treasure for the last days.

                        - James 5: 1-3 (Amplified Bible)

James here is calling upon all those who are filthy rich -  to cry,wail and weep over their miseries that are going to come upon them. These 3 verses to me sounded very harsh. Whats wrong in being rich, was the thought that came to me. Whats wrong in gaining money? Is it wrong to enjoy a luxurious life? To buy Italian leather than cheap clothing( on sale)? Here are the verses that impart more wisdom on this subject:

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

                                                                                          - Matthew 6:24

When we have money, or a lot of money we fall in the temptation of being wooed by it. See, we have been warned of idolatry. And idolizing and relying on money is displeasing to God. Idolatry in any form is a sin of which the consequences we must face, as are mentioned in James 5:1-3. And when money rules us (becomes your master), we have given the Lordship of God to money. In that state, no matter how much money we have, we are never satisfied. We tend to fill the emptiness of our souls with our bank balance. Not possible! And we do, sooner or later, despise God for admonishing us about the evil of greed and the corruption of money.

It is only God that deserves the rightful Lordship in our lives. Not money. What we can do is repent for our sinful behaviour and lust for riches and God surely forgives us in Christ Jesus. Those who are reliant on God, with a humble and meek attitude, will receive not only riches but also glory and everlasting life! Now that's what I call a good offer! When we are in God, we will enjoy the riches He provides for us, but we won't become slaves of money. We are also satisfied because He gives us true satisfaction, happiness and joy to our lives. Thus with whatever little or more we have, we glorify God.

We shall continue on the this topic tomorrow reading verses 4 - 6 where we come to know the corruption of money and how it changes us.

God bless you.