1 Come now, you who are rich, weep and wail over the misery to come upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and consume your flesh like fire.

You have hoarded treasure in the last days. 4 Look, the wages you withheld from the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous, who did not resist you.

REFLECTIONS

Written by Gus Cameron

My first reaction to reading this was to think, “This isn’t about me!” I’m not that rich, I’ve never forgotten to pay someone to mow my lawns or harvest my fields, and my house isn’t all that luxurious compared to all the new places around here.

But when I think about what my great, great grandparents would think of my lifestyle, I need to admit that I am so rich. They lived in tiny, thatched-roofed, stone-walled houses lit by old burning lanterns, heated by wood fires, and had just one pair of hand-me-down shoes! I think I am a lot richer than I realise. Imagine what the Apostle James would think of our rich lives if he could see how we live today!

As we buy our iPhones, save our superannuation and worry about being overweight from eating too much, we need to take James’ warning to heart. I know too many people who have been tempted away from Jesus and church by the love of money, as the desire to work and holiday more means they give less and less time to their relationship with Jesus and his people.

In Matthew 19:23 Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” But when the disciples respond, “Who then can be saved?”, Jesus also said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” While the riches of this world so easily distract us from Jesus, God is more than able to work in our lives to bring us to himself.

Rather than reading a passage like this and thinking about how it doesn’t apply to me, we should hear the warning to keep depending more and more on our gracious Heavenly Father. Give thanks for all the wonderful things God has given us, and pray that he would protect us from the love of money, from selfishness and greed. Pray that he would help us love the Lord Jesus more deeply each day and help us to remember that the riches of the kingdom of God are infinitely greater than the gold and silver of this world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gus is one of our Assistant Ministers.