Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
James is not condemning wealth here. He is rebuking self-reliance and self-indulgence. These men have abused their power and built a fortune on the backs of underpaid workers and overdue bills. While others in the early church are suffering, these men have worried only about their own comforts. The application to prosperous Americans is clear, but it isn’t that our neighbors need to pay more, as we often talk. God is calling us to consider our business practices and home finances. Are we comforting ourselves with worldly things while our fellow believers are suffering?
Questions
- How would you describe self-indulgence?
- Are there luxuries we take for granted today? What are they?
- How does a wealthy person rely humbly on the Lord?
- How does a consideration for the poor in and near your church influence your decisions?
Pray
Dear Lord, thank you for caring for us. Thank you for being patient with us, because we tend to rely on ourselves. Even when planning ministry, we rely mostly on our talents and expectations. Open our hearts to take in more of your Word. Transform us according to your will so that we will walk with you in humility. Wean us from a love of worldly things, and help us work, not for the weekend but for you. Everything we have or could earn is yours. Thank you for such blessings.
This devotion is adapted from the James Study Guide. Pick up a copy today for only $9.99. The Study Guide includes a 15-week curriculum, a small group study, a group inductive study, as well as 75 daily devotions for your personal or family worship.
