James did not spare his words, which
is something that is actually needed more among preachers in the last days. We
should call a spade a spade and tell it as it is. As listeners we should take
the word of the Lord, that is revealed to us, seriously for the Lord takes it
seriously and is one day going to ask us what we have done about the revelation
we have received and the warnings that He has sent us through His prophets.
One issue that the Holy Spirit
prompts me to write about quite often, and is addressed many times in the Bible,
is the matter of a materialistic lifestyle. In James 5:1-6 he touched on it
once again. If this issue is raised so many times in the Bible, should we not start
yielding to it? Remember that with all these messages it is a matter of ‘if the
cap fits, wear it’.
“Now listen, you
rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.
Your wealth has rotted, and moths
have eaten your clothes. 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. Look!
The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out
against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord
Almighty. You have
lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in
the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were
not opposing you.”
This is written from the perspective
of where these rich people will find them at the day of judgement – a prophetic
approach. It is like a before-and-after picture. Before the end everything went
well with them and they made use of every opportunity to enrich themselves at
the cost of the poor and lived comfortable lifestyles. But the judgement on
them will be severe, since everything they hoarded will have no value and their
abuse of innocent people will testify against them.
I am often amazed when companies
declare their annual profits in terms of billions and then ask myself whether
they rather could have had a little less profit and paid their workers more.
What do they want with all that money? I am also amazed at the annual bonus
figures of directors that are revealed on the news. How many houses could have
been built for the homeless all over the world with these moneys?
However, this is the world we are
talking about, but what about rich Christians? Was James only prophesying to
the very rich people? How about the not so rich, but well-off Christians that
pay their employees, which include gardeners and house cleaners, less than they
are worth? How about those who have the money to pay the asking price, but are
bargaining with the poor street vendor who tries his best to have a little food
on the table that evening, to make ends meet and keep his house for another
month.
1 Timothy 6:10 states: “For the love
of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have
wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” We often
exclude ourselves from this passage, claiming we do not love money, but what is
love of money? What was Jesus’ standard when He told the rich young man in
Matthew 19:21: “If
you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me,” and when He concluded with
these words after He had told the parable of the rich man building more barns
to store his excess in Luke 12:16-21: “But God said to him, ‘You fool!
This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you
have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone who
stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
Is keeping money, in case we need it,
not also love of money – relying on it? Should we not look at our assets and
determine how many of them we really need? Being rich towards God means being
rich in faith, so if we trust the Lord to care for us we will not hold on to Mammon
to do it, but bless others.
Lord, I need to be free from money’s
power over me.
Thank you Lord that your Word went
out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you
empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which
you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may
benefit by it.
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