Lesson 13 James 5:1-5 NIV

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.

First Impression?

• Rich seems to have a different definition in this context than I associate with the American Dream.

Because of the misery that is coming: Do we really need to worry about the future?

• No. God will provide. The only thing worse than a horrible future is worrying about it now.

Rotted, eaten, corroded: If we rely on God, does it matter that our stuff rots, is eaten, or corrodes?

• I think not. The issue here is that we are to be good stewards and put our resources to use and not let them sit.

Corrosion testifies against you: What does this mean as I am inclined to not care?

• My mental picture is a huge pile of steel that could be used to shelter the homeless that has sat out unprotected for so long it has corroded beyond value.

Eat your flesh like fire: What does this mean, as it sounds like a reaction to someone trying to hug corroded gold and silver?

• I think this means that this evil person has had their attention drawn to what they ignored and are sad to have lost it when they did not care just a second before.

Hoarded wealth in the last days: What exactly is the definition of hoarding vs saving?

• Interestingly, I think the key is intent. Are you saving for when something goes wrong or are you just amassing more?

Wages you failed to pay: Did you? Does this apply? How?

• I hope it does not.

Lived in luxury: So, is luxury evil? Where is the line?

• As with the first impression, I think there is some excess meaning in luxury. Having nice stuff is ok as long as you can afford it and treat it respectfully. Buying stuff you cannot afford or strictly to one up another is not right.

Self-indulgence: Next topic please.

• The basis of this question is how much like my neighbor do I love myself?

Fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter: What am I? Daddy Pig?

• I used a prop of Daddy Pig that my oldest kid once got me for this question. It was funny and triggered a whole month or so of fun when I forgot him. The idea is that we all fall short sometimes, and in this area, me more than some.

The paragraph has another sentence, but to pause and go over the first five: One of our reactions to lists like this is to say I did not do that and therefore, the author surely can’t be speaking to me. Assuming this went as quickly as it might have, acknowledging the temptation to put our wants above the needs of those around us, how do we balance our use and stewardship of God’s resources against needs of the evil, faceless masses that clamor for us to give us everything so they can have it instead?

• Long question. I have a hint of a memory of reading a theory that there were no rich Navajos because any Navajo who had extra, gave it out to their families and eventually any excess was distributed across the clan. People in war torn lands are hungry, but I do not feel called to give up all that God has had me save up to feed them. But who pays for the evil deeds of leaders?

What patterns do we need to develop to ensure that we are not hoarding God’s resources that should be helping us give glory to God?

• Earn, give, save, spend. If we start by acknowledging God’s role in our having resources, then make sure we are not spending all we have, then we can spend at levels that are appropriate to what He has provided. Some people want to make so much they can live on only 10%. Some want to have no savings so that they have to rely on God every moment. I feel like He gave me a brain, and I use it to be a good steward. There is no detailed pattern, but a submissive posture is a good start.