James 5:1-6 (Part 14) The Peril of Riches

The Peril of Riches

• Condemnation of materialism, 5:1-6

o Warns of materialistic of judgment, 5:1

o List of 4 money crimes, 5:2-6

• Exhortation of patience, 5:7-11

o The farmer

o The prophet

o Job

• Prohibition concerning oaths, 5:12

• Exhortation to prayer, 5:13-18

o A call to prayer, vv. 13-16

o The effectiveness of prayer, 5:17-18

The condemnation of materialism, 5:1-6

• A coming judgment, v. 1

o The addresses—“you rich”—the oppressive, unjust, unbelieving

 They are not among the righteous, v. 6 goes back to v. 1

 The address to believers resumes, v. 7

o The danger of money

 To those who have it

 Those who want it (consider I Timothy 6:9)

• Money crimes, vv. 2-6

1) Money is wrong when it is not put to profitable use, vv. 2-3.

o Riches rotted—you have so much it goes bad

o Garments moth eaten—so many clothes you don’t get around to wearing them

 Gold and silver rusted—just sits in the jewelry box

 Your money will testify to your greed and selfishness

2) Money obtained dishonestly, v. 4

o Works demands pay

o Pay demands work

o The idea in v. 4 is unpaid debt

o The NT is very strong on work ethics and no reference to welfare

3) Money used for only self-indulgence, v. 5

o Luxuriously—a softness that demoralizes

o Been wanton—wasteful indulgence

4) Money obtained ruthlessly, v. 6.