Aug. 06, 2025

“ENCOUNTERS WITH GOD”

“WARNINGS TO THE WEALTHY”

JAMES 5:1-6

James was concerned about the selfishness of the rich, and advised them to “weep and howl." He gave three reasons for his exhortation:

1.   The Way They Got Their Wealth (5:4 and 6a)

The Bible does not discourage the acquiring of wealth. In the Law of Moses, specific rules are laid down for getting and securing wealth.

He gave two illustrations of how the rich acquired their wealth:

*Holding back wages (5:4). 

James 5:4 “Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.”

In the Law, God gave definite instructions concerning the laboring man in order to protect him from the oppressive employer.

Deuteronomy 24:14-15 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether one of your brethren or one of the aliens who is in your land within your gates. 15Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.”

Leviticus 19:13 “You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.”

Jeremiah 22:13 “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness And his chambers by injustice, Who uses his neighbor’s service without wages And gives him nothing for his work.”

The tense of the verb "kept back” vs.4 in the original Greek indicates that the laborers never will get their salaries.

*Controlling the courts 5:6

James 5:6 “You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.” 

It is often the case that those who have wealth also have political power and can get what they want.

James 2:6 “But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?”

When God established Israel in her land, He gave the people a system of courts. (See Deut. 17:8-13). 

He warned the judges not to be greedy (Ex. 18:21). 

They were not to be partial to the rich or the poor (Lev. 19:15). 

No judge was to tolerate perjury (Deut. 19:16-21). 

Bribery was condemned by the Lord (Isa. 33:15; Micah 3:1l; 7:3). 

The Prophet Amos denounced the judges in his day who took bribes and "fixed" cases (Amos 5:12, 15).

The courts in James day were apparently easy to control if you had enough money.

*The Bible warns us against the securing of wealth by illegal means:

God owns all wealth- Psalm 50:10 “For every beast of the forest is Mine, And the cattle on a thousand hills.”

He permits us to be stewards of His wealth for His glory-

Proverbs 13:11 “Wealth gained by dishonesty will be diminished,
But he who gathers by labor will increase.”

Proverbs 10:4 “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.”

Proverbs 23:4 “Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!”

We must put God first in our lives, and He will see to it that we always have all that we need- Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

2.   The Way the Rich Used Their Wealth James 5:3-5

*They stored it up (5:3)

James 5:3 “Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” 

Of course, there is nothing sinful about saving.

2 Corinthians 12:14 “Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.”

1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 

Matthew 25:27 “So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.”

Matthew 6:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.”

What did Jesus mean by "laying up treasures in heaven"? 

To lay up treasures in heaven means to use all that we have as stewards of God's wealth. You and I may possess many things, but we do not own them. God is the Owner of everything, and we are His stewards.

*They kept others from benefiting from it (5:4)

James 5:4 “indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.”

By fraudulent means, the rich men robbed the poor.

1 Corinthians 4:2 “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.”

*They lived in luxury (5:5)

James 5:5 “You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.”

Jesus said:

Luke 12:15 “And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 

There is a great difference between enjoying what God has given us:

1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

3.   What Their Riches Will Do- James 5:1-4

The rich thought they had it made because of their wealth, but God thought otherwise. 

James 5:1 “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!”

*James described the consequences of misusing riches:

*Riches will vanish- 5:2-3

James 5:2-3 “Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.”

It is a great mistake to think there is security in wealth. Paul wrote:

1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

Luke 12:20 “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?”

*Misused riches erode character- 5:3

vs.3 “… and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire.”

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

It is good to have riches in your hand provided they do not get into your heart.

Psalm 62:10 “Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.” 

Proverbs 22:1 “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.”

*Judgment is a certainty- 5:3, 5 

James 5:9 “Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!”

Genesis 4:10 “And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.”

 And he hears this stolen money cry out too.

*The workers will also testify against them- 5:4

*The loss of a precious opportunity- 5:3 

"The last days" indicates that James believed that the coming of the Lord was near.

James 5:8-9 “You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!” 

We must "buy up the opportunity" 

Ephesians  5:16 “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

John 9:4 “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.”

What we keep, we lose. What we give to God, we keep, and He adds interest to it.

Yes, money talks. What will it say to you at the last judgment?