A Warning to The Wealthy

James 5:1–6 | Caleb Suko

There is much focus on wealth in our society but this is nothing new. Since creation men and women have focused their efforts on building for themselves empires of wealth, which they thought would somehow save them, or simply bring them fame, power, and satisfaction in life.

Last week we looked at those who have set their sights on becoming wealthy, who have made a goal for themselves, and developed plans on how they will create their future wealth. James gave a warning to these people. He told us that we should not boast about our future and that instead of making plans for big money we should make plans that align with God’s will in our lives.

Now James turns his focus to those who have already made their wealth. These aren’t the people planning to make money, they’ve already done it. They were either born into wealth or somehow they became wealthy through business and trade.

The early church was a diverse church. We know that there were wealthy people in the early church, there were businessmen and women, there were military officers, there were government officials and there were also slaves. This difference in social and economic status at times made it difficult for people to interact, however, we also see that in Christ we are all on the same level.

James certainly realized that these differences in social and economic status could be detrimental to the church if we don’t have the right attitude towards wealth, poverty, and spiritual life.

Notice how James from the beginning of his letter addresses this issue:

James 1:9–10

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation — since they will pass away like a wild flower.

James gives equal treatment to the poor and wealthy alike. In Christ Poor = Rich. In the end, we are all to do the same thing, “take pride” not in what you’ve done but in the position God has placed you. The poor believer is in a high position because he must trust God for he has no other choice! The rich believer should be in a humble position realizing that his riches really mean nothing before God, he too must trust God.

So before we look at our texts today can we all just take a minute to think of the position God has placed us in. I want you to take pride in your position, whether humble or high, wealthy or wanting. Take pride in how God is working through you, how he can use you, and how he has gotten you to where you are. Don’t be ashamed of your position, don’t try to fake like your rich when you’re poor, and don’t try to fake poverty if you’re rich. Simply look at where you are and thank God, it’s all God, it’s not you!

Now let’s look at this sobering warning to the rich.

James 5:1–6

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

I. Wealth can’t save you

James 5:1

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.

James is clear about who he is writing to. He is writing to the rich and the wealthy: those who had considerably more money than others. However, as we read through this passage it is clear that he is not simply addressing the wealthy but that he is addressing those who have developed a wrong attitude about their wealth. Thus, James calls upon these rich people to change their attitude. Evidently, they were very unconcerned with the future, they believed they had everything under control, they thought that their success in business, the properties they owned, and the cash they had saved up would provide them with a sure future.

James tells them that this is wrong. No one should ever put their hope in riches. Riches can’t rescue you on the day of God’s wrath. Too often people put their hopes in things that can never save them and often that thing is wealth. There is a subtle and deceiving way that wealth lulls us into false security and a general well sense of being so that we forget God’s coming judgment and the meaningless of all earthly possessions when that day comes!

Often when our finances are strong our faith becomes weak and when our finances are weak our faith becomes strong. How does this work? We think that money can take care of our needs and instead of turning to our Creator we turn to our cash.

Proverbs 11:4

Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

James tells us that we ought to have an attitude of weeping and mourning. What does this attitude look like?

Humility about finances

Seriousness about the future

Values that are priceless

This is the attitude of a humble heart that recognizes the limitations of his bank account and knows that only God can save him. This is the attitude of one who looks into the future and looks beyond this life and realizes this cash will never help him in the grave, his money will never give him righteousness, his finances can never produce the most valued things in life such as forgiveness, grace, love, mercy, peace, joy, and a relationship with God.

Hebrews 9:27–28

27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

There is a day of judgment coming for the whole world and there is a day of judgment coming for each one of us. Your wealth will not save you on that day but Christ can.

II. Wealth rots

James 5:2

2. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire.

Once my wife accidentally left a piece of meat in the microwave at my in-laws. Well, my in-laws had just left town and were going to be gone for a week or more. Before they returned she went to check on their apartment and to her horror found that wonderful piece of meat in the microwave. It had rotted, it was no longer fit to be eaten. Just a few days left at room temperature and something good and appetizing became something putrid and disgusting.

It doesn’t matter how you build wealth, it could be in real estate, in oil, in stocks and bonds, in precious metals, all wealth will one day rot. All wealth is temporary because this world is temporary, your shirt is temporary, your shoes are temporary, your jewelry is temporary, your bank account is temporary, your car is temporary, your home is temporary, your body is temporary. All these things will one day rot and so we must have a proper attitude towards them.

2 Peter 3:10–11

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives

How should you relate to the temporary things of this life?

1. Don’t put your hope in them (hold them with an open hand)
2. Thank God for them, (recognize that all you have is from God)
3. Be generous with them, (there are people in need around you)
4. Use them for good
5. Enjoy them

III. Wealth corrupts the heart

James 5:3

3. …You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.

A wrong attitude towards wealth is like acid on the heart, it will lead your heart down a destructive road. James tells us that these people had hoarded wealth in the last days. The word here literally means to set something aside in a large pile. Hoarding is destructive to you and to others around you. Hoarding primarily has to do with a wrong way of thinking about our possessions. A hoarder is someone who never feels he has enough, who is always afraid that someday he will be in need, and thus is always purchasing more and more even though he can not possibly use everything that he has already purchased.

I once worked for a company that cleaned and repaired homes after water or fire damage. Once we had to clean the home of a hoarder. The woman was about 65 years old and she and her husband had lived in the same home for the past 20+ years. The home had 3 bedrooms, one large living room, a smaller family room, a garage, and two bathrooms. Out of all these rooms, only 2 of them were slightly livable, one bedroom and the small family room. The women spent nearly every day watching a channel on TV called QVC. This channel did nothing but advertise different things, jewelry, tools, clothing, cleaning products, etc… For the past 10 years or more the women must have ordered something on this channel every day.

The largest room in the house, the living room, was filled from floor to ceiling with boxes she had ordered. Many of the boxes had never been opened! There was just a narrow passageway through the middle of the room from one doorway to another. One of the bathrooms couldn’t even be entered because of all the stuff piled into it. We had to access it through a window.

In all, we took 2 or 3 truckloads of garbage out of her home.

This woman’s wrong expectations and thinking about possessions were terribly destructive to her own heart. Not only this but it was also destructive to her family, to her home, and to those around her.

Jesus uses the same language when he talks about the dangers of wealth in Matthew 6

Matthew 6:19–20

19 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

When we try to fulfill the desires of our heart by hoarding possessions it will always have a destructive effect in our life!

False expectations of what wealth can do for you are always destructive.

Instead, Jesus calls us to store up treasure in heaven.

20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

How do we store up treasure in heaven?

1. By faith (trust God for provision in this life and for eternal life)
2. By obedience (do what is right no matter the financial benefit)
3. By service (serving those who can’t repay)

However, we see further damage caused by hoarding and a wrong attitude towards our wealth. A strong desire for wealth can often lead to dishonest financial dealings with others. Unfortunately, it’s common to lie, cheat, and steal from those around us in order that we can build our own wealth. This is dishonest, cruel, and it is not the way God wants us to build wealth.

People think they are getting ahead by cheating someone out of their pay, by complaining about the quality of their work just to get a discount, by promising one thing then making excuses and giving something less. I know that we live in a world where this is all common but we must be different. There is a great danger to you and me when we cheat others of their just pay. We may think that we have gotten away with it but God sees and God will repay them and he will repay you for your dishonesty.

Deuteronomy 24:14–15

14 Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether that worker is a fellow Israelite or a foreigner residing in one of your towns. 15 Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

IV. Wealth can lead to self-indulgence

James 5:5

5. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

Another warning to the wealthy is the danger of living a self-indulgent lifestyle. Today we live in a society that has lifted self-indulgence to new heights. Just go on Instagram to see how the rich or the “want to be” rich flaunt their cars, their jewelry, their exotic vacations, their homes, and anything that says, “I’m rich!”

Self-indulgence isn’t just wealth, it’s wealth with attitude! It’s wealth that cares only about me, not about those around me. Self-indulgence should never be the goal of our wealth. On the other hand, it’s not wrong to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

What is the difference between self-indulgence and simply enjoying the fruits of your labor? It is a difference in attitude, purpose, and expectation

Self-indulgence vs simple enjoyment

Self Indulgence

I did it!

Ungrateful

For me

I deserved it

Stingy

Lazy

This will fulfill me

This will make me happy

I want more

Simple Enjoyment

God did it!

Thanksgiving

For others

I didn’t deserve it

Generous

Willing to work

Only God can fulfill me

Only God can make me happy

I am content

Ultimately self-indulgence is the result of a self-focused life, a life that pursues my comfort, entertainment, and excitement over God. Self-indulgence is temporary, unfulfilling, and, in the end, a destructive mindset that will lead us away from God, away from true peace, and away from a meaningful life here on earth.

V. Wealth can pervert justice

James 5:6

You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

Finally, we see the most serious accusation and warning to the wealthy. They have murdered the innocent, the one who was not even opposing them. It’s a bit difficult to understand exactly what James is talking about here but let’s try. James talks about this problem of the relationship between the rich and the poor earlier in his letter.

James 2:6

But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?

This could be what James is referring to here. Some rich people, in order to ensure their wealth, to make sure their businesses functioned resorted to dishonest means of taking people to court and destroying their lives. This could have resulted in people losing their jobs and their income. This could also have resulted in some unjustly going to prison or even being sentenced to death.

On the other hand, there is a more subtle way that we can also be a participant in the death of the innocent. When we are so focused upon our own wealth, our own self-indulgences that we don’t even see the need around us and how we can help the poor who may be dying. How terrible it is for the one who oppresses the poor!

Proverbs 14:31

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Do you want to honor God? Well, you’re not going to do that by flaunting your wealth and your luxurious lifestyle, but you can do that by quietly and sacrificially helping those in need around you. Certainly, you have some means that God has given you, some way in which you can bless another who is in need now.

Conclusion:

James is very straightforward with us, his warnings should be sobering to us. As we think about the dangers of wealth let us remind ourselves also what true lasting wealth is and where it comes from.

1. True wealth is internal
2. It’s not dependent upon your social standing
3. It’s not dependent upon your bank accounts
4. It’s not dependent upon your “connections”
5. It’s not dependent upon what kind of car you drive or home you own
6. True wealth can only be given by God
7. True wealth can never be taken from you
8. True wealth never runs out
9. True wealth is free

Ephesians 1:6–8, 18

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,