The Dangers of Riches

Transition: The one percenters live according to different standards. Regardless of what they get away with in this life, they will not get away with anything in the judgment of God. I am not making a declaration of Loughlin’s spiritual status - I am just observing that extreme wealth can lead people to false assumptions. The desire for extreme wealth has always been a danger to the faithful, and we should still be on guard if we seek to please God.

1. God’s judgment on the ungodly rich is sure (James 5:1)

Explanation: James now lays out those unbelievers who are trusting in their wealth. While the previous section could be addressed to believers or unbelievers, this section is clearly addressed to unbelievers. The phrase about the miseries that are coming upon you is a reference to the wrath of God. These people may be members or attenders of the Church, but they are lost and outside of Christ.

Argument: There are many in this country who equate the blessings of material possessions with the blessings of God. In their mind, there is no possibility that they are even now under the wrath of God. If the thought of judgment ever crossed their minds, they would think it was an oversight on God’s part. As soon as He realized who He was dealing with, everything would be smoothed over.

Application: After listening to his client discuss his legal problems and why he really wasn’t guilty anyway, a lawyer made a statement and asked a question: “you have a pretty good case, how much justice can you afford?” There may be a different standard for those with money and those without in this world, but rest assured, there is an inescapable future judgment (Jer 11:11; Rev. 20:12)

Even with that, some will think they can buy their way out. But, they will discover:

2. God’s judgment on the ungodly rich will not be stopped by material wealth (James 5:2-3)

Explanation: Almost if James is preparing for this very idea, he tells them that their security is actually no security at all. They have great store by their wealth and think that it will last forever, but James informs them that it is already in the process of rotting away. He is telling them that they may have stored up this treasure for a provision for the end, but James is declaring it will not suffice!

Illustrate: Leona Helmsley was a billionaire who made her fortune in the hotel industry. She was an elitist who considered herself above the law. “We don’t pay taxes; only little people pay taxes.” She was convicted in 1989 and served time

Argument: God is the Creator of the Universe. He literally owns everything. Even setting aside His holiness for a moment, why would he be swayed in His judgment by things He created and controls?

“And He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness” (Psalm 9:8).

3. God’s judgment on the ungodly rich is a result of their oppressive behavior (James 4-6)

Explanation: James makes a point to tie their wickedness with their wealth. We must be clear that in and of itself, wealth is not sinful. Abraham had great wealth; King David had great wealth; Isaiah was of the royal family.

Individuals do not suffer God’s wrath and end up being sentenced to Hell because they are wealthy. [And that is good for us as Americans, because all of us are considered to be wealthy according to global standards!] Individuals are under the judgment of God because they are wicked rebels. For those rebels with money, they stand out more because they generally use their wealth to oppress others.

Argument: Jesus had much to say about possessions being an indicator of the heart. He once told a parable about a rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) in which the rich man ends up in hell and Lazarus is in paradise. If this was the only teaching we had, we might be excused for thinking that rich people go to hell and poor people go to heaven.

The very clear teaching of the Bible is that salvation is of faith in Christ Jesus, and apart from Christ all will suffer judgment into hell. It also seems clear that those who are very well off tend to see no need to trust in a Savior when they are already trusting in their possessions.

Application for Believers

Make very sure you are trusting in Christ, not in your possessions

Another very familiar account about Jesus and wealth is found in Matthew 19:16-30. A rich young ruler comes to Jesus asking about the requirements for Eternal Life. This man considers himself to already be righteous, so Jesus reveals the condition of his heart by telling him to go sell his stuff. His refusal to give it up reveals where his true priorities were located.

In the after lesson with the disciples, Jesus makes a very difficult statement: “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” (Matt 19:24). The disciples were shocked seeing the impossibility, but Jesus then shares how God can and does accomplish the impossible (v. 26)

Make sure you are trusting Christ, not your stuff

Store up for yourselves treasure in heaven (Matt 6:19-24)

A very good way to ensure you stay on track is to maintain an Eternal Perspective, not an earthly one. A lot of folks, including some misguided believers, strive and labor to get stuff. It is possible to accumulate wealth in this walk of life, but it can also be dangerous. That is why Jesus told His disciples to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matt 6:20)

It may help to remember that nothing material is going to last. While there are historical monuments that are thousands of years old, and while there exist jewels and precious works of art that are also very old, let us remember that they will one day be gone.

“But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7)

Do not be envious of the wealth of others - be content in Christ (Phil 4:13)

James wrote this letter in the main to fellow believers. He wrote to encourage them and to exhort them to faithfulness in following Jesus. He also knew that it was very possible for earthly desires to creep into the faithful and to derail their walk with the Master.

In the previous chapter, James warned against the dangers of worldliness. He includes this section that deals with the coming judgment of the wicked as a warning to his fellow believers. James is well aware of the siren call of the world, a call that John also warns about (1 John 2:15-17) READ this passage.

Even though we are blessed beyond what we deserve, we also can cast a wishful eye on those who have more than we do. There is always someone we know who has a nicer & bigger house, a newer car or truck, and vacations more often and in more exotic locations than we do.

Our solution is to “set our affections on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:2) and be satisfied with what God has given us. We can do this when we realize and/or remember that Christ is sufficient (Phil 4:13)

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