MONEY, MONEY, MONEY (James 5:1-6)
In these verses James addresses rich landowners. He accuses them of three things but of course his accusations apply equally well to all of us.
- ACCUSES THEM OF HOARDING (vrs 1-3)
Someone once asked the American billionaire, Rockerfeller; “how many millions does it take to satisfy a man?” His reply was – “the next one.” This accurately reflects the person that James has in mind. 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. James is pointing us to the foolishness of hoarding. What is the point of stockpiling corn and grain only for it to rot in the barns? What is the point of accumulating precious garments if the only creatures to benefit from them are moths? Of what value will a heap of rusty metal be to us on the day of judgment? James supplies us with a chilling prospect that on the day of judgment whatever wealth we have hoarded will fill the dual role of our accuser and executioner. What makes hoarding all the more serious is that it was taking place in the “last days” (the entire period between Christ’s first and second coming Acts 2:17; Hebrews 1:1). Money that should be released for the extension of his kingdom was being stockpiled. In 1 Timothy 6:18, 19 the rich are commanded; “to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.” - ACCUSES THEM OF EXPLOITATION (vrs 4)
“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.” These workers were living a hand to mouth existence. A day without wages meant a day without food. But what makes the crime of these landowners doubly horrendous is that they were doing this at harvest time when their barns were full and their winepresses overflowing. In Deuteronomy 24:14, 15 the Lord laid down clear guidelines for the payment of wages. Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy . . . pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin. These landowners were disregarding the law. God’s word says that the cries of the workers will reach His ears and He will plunder those who plunder the poor (Proverbs 22:23). - ACCUSES THEM OF SELF-INDULGENCE (vrs 5)
In vrs 5 he says; “you have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourself in the day of slaughter.” What is the difference between a hoarder and a self-indulgent person? A hoarder saves everything he can for a rainy day. The self-indulgent person spends his hard-earned cash but spends it upon himself. There is a story that Jesus told which highlights the dangers of self-indulgence. In vrs 6 of our text James says that the self-indulgent person is merely fattening himself for the day of slaughter. This is a very descriptive phrase. When farmers want to sell a beast for slaughter they will first fatten them up by placing them in rich pastures. There they eat and grow fatter by the hour oblivious to the fact that each hour brings the butchers knife closer. A well-fed beast makes itself fat for the knife. Only thin beasts will be spared. James sees the self-indulgent rich as living for this life only and forgetting that a day of slaughter is fast approaching.