Where is your treasure?
Notes
Transcript
James has been writing about the contrast between the value systems of the world and the believer.
He began by contrasting how wisdom differed between the world and godly wisdom.
Last week, we examined the idea of whether God is considered within our plans or is He simply an afterthought
Tonight, we want to examine how James warns those who are wealthy by the world’s standard to make sure that their value system lines up with God’s values.
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
Again, James begins with that prophetic particle of divine disapproval - Go to now - or we might simply say LISTEN UP!
Then he warns the rich to begin mourning because their money will all perish.
He uses the present to signify that this will definitely happen.
Their wealth in food stuffs will rot
(remember, they are agriculturally based)
Their garments will be eaten by moths
Their money will rust
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter of James B. Misusing Wealth and Power Brings God’s Judgment (5:1–6)
What can be said about the “rich” in this passage, however, is that they are condemned not simply for their wealth; they are condemned for their sinful use of wealth. Applying the text to all wealthy people, then, would be a misreading of the passage. On the other hand, we cannot avoid the serious reminder about money and possessions that we confront in this text. One of the sins for which God condemns these people is their selfish accumulation of money and things (vv. 2–3). In the Western world, where amassing material wealth is not only condoned but admired, we Christians need to come to grips with this point in James and ask ourselves seriously: When do we have too much?
We are reminded of Christ’s warnings to the rich in this world
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
In verse 30, Christ explains why this is so - because of their value systems:
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
Based on the language here in James, it does not seem to be written to believers but to unbelievers - since he does not call on them to change, but rather to simply mourn and get ready for God’s judgement.
However, we as believers must also remember that the reality is that we may not have lots of money, but we have more than the majority of the world. The catch is not the money we have, but the priority we place upon that money
The Priority of Wealth
The Priority of Wealth
High Definition Commentary: James James 5:1–6
What things are we confidently storing up and placing our trust in? Are they eternal things? James reminds us that earthly riches will not last. In ancient times, natural causes like pests and corrosion threatened to destroy someone’s saving. Now, we face threats of identity theft, recession, and inflation. James presents a timeless challenge: to consider the dividends our investments pay. Are we investing in spiritual things that will last, or in material things that are ephemeral?
Then James gives further detail about these crimes of the unrighteous - not just putting their trust in riches rather than God, but also defrauding people:
Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
The Payment of Others
The Payment of Others
High Definition Commentary: James James 5:1–6
James paints a picture of the rich having extra in part because they withhold the wages due to their workers. Although the wealth may offer them momentary comfort and security, a day of reckoning is coming. When it arrives, both the unpaid workers and the withheld wages will bear witness against them
This is a good reminder that while we need to make sure that we place the right priority on money, there can also be a feeling among believers that life is not fair.
We seem to struggle while the world that does not know or care about God - seems to have things easy.
Yet, James reminds us that while the unrighteous may be rich currently, those riches will vanish and God’s judgement will be coming.
He does this with a word picture - where he contrasts the fact that these rich were feasting on meat as in a day of slaughter -
Yet, the reality is that they were getting ready to be slaughtered/butchered themselves
Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
In addition, he reminds the rich taht the Lord of Sabaoth or the Lord of Hosts is coming.
This title is an Old Testament name for God Almighty and it signifies not just that God is the head of the armies of Israel, but even more than that:
Alexander Ross, the great Scottish preacher states:
“this divine name [describes] Jehovah as the Almighty God, Lord of the hosts of men, Lord of the hosts of angels, Lord of the hosts of the stars, who does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth.”
That is the God whom we serve and who will come to judge these unrighteous, rich men.
Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
The Persecution of Believers
The Persecution of Believers
We don’t live in a time of intense persecution, yet we do face difficulties from unbelievers.
In addition, we look around the world and see fellow believers being persecuted for their faith - sometimes, we wonder, how long will God allow this to go on?
Yet, God reminds us - that He is not asleep, He does seek and know the sufferings of believers and He will reward believers and judge unbelievers --- all in His perfect timing.
As a result, James reminds us to be patient
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
The Coming of the Lord
The Coming of the Lord
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
The Reminder of Judgement
High Definition Commentary: James James 5:7–12
The Lord’s return serves both as an encouragement to obey and a deterrent from continuing sinful behavior.
Lift up your heads - Maranatha - Our Lord Cometh!