Introduction: Many years ago a story appeared in a magazine called the Pathfinder about a miner in the old West who erroneously thought he was dying wealthy.  A gold prospector got lost in the sand dunes of Death Valley in southern California and died.  Before this man died he had scribbled on a scrap of paper, “Died Rich” and then hugged mineral rocks to his bosom.  Many years later a group of tourists discovered his skeleton remain, a rusty miner’s pick nearby, a watch which had ceased long before, the note, and the rock he was grasping.  Sadly this man was mistaken about what kind of rocks he had for they were abounding with pyrite not gold - he had “fools gold.”  Instead of dying rich he had died a pauper.  The fool’s gold he clutched to his bosom was a silent witness to his error.  Yet his status after death was precisely the same as if he had been rich at the time when he stepped into eternity. 

 

Both those who die rich and those who die poor have exactly the same amount of wealth in Hell - They are absolute paupers forever!

 

The text of scripture before us today is addressed to those who are rich in the things of this world, but totally poor in the things of God.  This text of scripture is probably not liked to much by those it is addressed to - but whether they listened or not God’s word has been spoken and it did and still does comes to pass.

 

Now before you all tune me out because you do not place yourself in this upper crust of society let me remind you that all of God’s Word has something for us to take in and heed. We need to listen and allow the Holy Spirit of God to convict us where He desires to use His Word.

 

James starts off by saying, “Go to now”  It would be like us saying “Hey, listen up”  It was an expression spoken or written with the intention of getting somebody’s attention about something very important.

 

What does James have to say that is so important? 

 

I. The Coming Judgment Upon The Rich--James 5:1

As a result of what we will examine in this passage of scripture today, inescapable judgment was soon coming upon the wealthy who were spiritually lost.

 

A. What should the rich be doing?

1. Weeping = sob bitterly

2. Howling = intense grief

 

Such an attitude of heart is declared by the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 15:3 In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth: on the tops of their houses, and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping abundantly. 

 

Sadly, most people who are rich with the things of this world and are living for those the things of this world would laugh at such a command.  Why?  Everything is going so good for them. Why should they weep and howl?  That’s the point - they need to understand that there is a pay day someday

 

B. What is this misery that “shall come upon you?”

1. Near term - some Bible scholars believe the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD at the hands of the Roman General, Titus, is what is being referred to here.  In Jesus’ ministry He predicted the destruction of Jerusalem.

 

2. Distant - Ultimately, all those who reject the provision of salvation from Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire - Hell.

 

We need to understand that this text of scripture is not teaching that having lots of money will send you to Hell.  No, a rejection of salvation will result in a separation from God for all eternity in Hell.  Money by itself is not evil - only the love of money.

 

As we will see as we go through this passage of scripture, it seems like poetic justice that the wicked rich who has hurt so many will be confronted by their own miseries.

 

 

II. The Corrupt Treasure Of The Rich--James 5:2,3

People, at the time of the writing of this book of James, marked wealth in three areas: food, clothing, and precious metals.  What do you know, they still do.

 

A. What this treasure really is--5:2-3a

 

1. It is a corrupted wealth - “Your riches are corrupted,” can be literally translated “Your riches have rotted.”  They have become totally useless and worthless. 

 

Ÿ         If we understand this to be implying food items, we all know that a hoarding of food items in their natural state can only last so long.

 

Ÿ         In that regard, I’m reminded of the parable of the rich man that Jesus told in Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 

Ÿ         So much for hoarded wealth in food items - it will rot away.

 

2. It is moth-eaten garments.  Literally, “Your garments have become moth-eaten.”

Ÿ         The rich place great pride in the costliness of what they wear.  They flaunt their wealth by the extravagant clothing they buy and wear.  I’m amazed at how much some people will pay for some clothes and how little of their body those costly clothes will cover!  They live from one clothing season to the next.  What new fashion has come out?  What new accessory can I buy to go with my designer clothes?  Their live is totally wrapped up with such things.  How senseless and stupid this is.

 

Ÿ         In James’ day, costly garments could be traded and used as money in many cases.  Remember how the soldiers cast lots for Jesus’ robe so it wouldn’t be cut into pieces? 

 

Ÿ         What happens eventually to all costly apparel?  It rots away, thrown away, given away, etc. One day those who lived only for their clothes will look back to this life and weep and howl that they were so foolish.

 

3. It is rusted gold and silver

Ÿ         The word “cankered” is another way of saying rusting.  Obviously pure gold and silver does not rust, though it will tarnish.

 

Ÿ         I believe James is speaking figuratively here of the eventual worthlessness of the wealth standard of the precious metals gold and silver.  Once the judgment of God falls upon them, either in the near term or future, all the gold and silver in the world will not rescue them from the hand of God’s wrath.

 

B. What this corrupt treasure will do against the lost rich--5:3b

 

1. The rust of their wasted wealth will witness against them

Ÿ         As we have traveled around, we have probably seen great building sitting empty that used to hum with great activity as a place of business.  The economy has changed, many things have changed and those business are now just rusting away.  Sometimes the business went out of business because of some wrong decisions made by those running the business.  Now every time someone see that empty place they are reminded of the consequences of wrong decisions.

Ÿ         In the judgment of God, the heaps of rust from the so-called wealth of the wicked will sit on the witness stand against them.  All that will be left of their life is a pile of rust.  That doesn’t sound very appealing, does it?  Yet countless millions and billions of people on this earth are going through their life as if the only thing that matters is the almighty buck.

 

2. The rust of their wasted wealth will consume them as fire

Ÿ         Covetousness will always eat away at those who are consumed with their wealth and it will eventually destroy them.

Ÿ         If we take the Greek word that can be translated “cankered”, I think we can understand the thought behind eating the flesh as it were fire.  Canker sores hurt, and various other sores eat away the flesh.  This is how James describes what their riches will eventually do to them.

 

Before we move on to verses 4-6, I want us to quickly look at Matthew 6:19-21 which I believe are in James’ heart and thoughts as he wrote these words. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

 

Application: I realize that this sort of passage of scripture may lend itself to believers tuning out since it’s main emphasize is directed toward the unbelieving wealthy.  But we each need to ask ourselves a question - where is my treasure laid up?  Is it laid up in heaven or here on this earth?  The people we are studying about today had laid their treasure up on this earth and were going to find out how foolish they had been.  Can believers be just as foolish?  I believe they can be.  We need to be on guard for the same trust in riches that James is pointing out in the verses before us.

 

Before we move on to verse four and the three charges James makes against the rich, take note of the last sentence of verse 3 “Ye have heaped treasure for (in) the last days.” The last days speaks of the period of time before Christ returns for the Church.  We are presently in the last day, and have been for the past 2,000 years.  When people should be concerned about the immanent return of Jesus Christ, the rich selfishly and foolishly hoard treasurers on earth and go on living as if nothing is ever going to change.

 

III. Three Charges Made Against The Wicked Rich--James 5:4-6

 

A. Charge #1: They have defrauded their employees

1. Who cries? “The hire of the labourers.”

Ÿ         The very hire (pay) of those who have worked in the fields of the wealthy landowner that have not been paid cries out.  That sounds like what it says in Gen. 4:10 when the blood of Abel, Cain’s brother, cried out from the ground.

Ÿ         Workers during the time of Christ and afterward were paid at the end of each day (Matthew 20:8) So when even was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first.

 

Application: Today, in the USA, there are very tight laws about somebody doing this.  If you agree to work for somebody they are obligated to pay you.  If they refuse to pay, the employee has certain legal channels they can take to get paid.  As believers, let’s make sure we never have the spirit of wishing to take advantage of another because we think we can, and so we can save a dollar.  Never forget, the Judge of the whole earth sees.

 

2. Who Hears? - The Lord of Sabaoth

Ÿ         This name of God means “The Lord of Armies” or “The Lord of Hosts.”  God who fights for His people.

 

Ÿ         Notice these verses and what they say:  Exodus 22:22-24 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.  Deut. 24:14,15 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: At his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the LORD, and it be sin unto thee.  Psalm 72:12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.

 

Ÿ         Two truths stand out in the Word of God concerning the Lord of Hosts

a. He aids those who call upon Him and who obey Him - Psalm 84:11,12 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly, O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.  Do you believe that and live by it?

b. He will bring low those who are proud - Isaiah 2:10-12 Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

 

B. Charge #2: They are living in selfish extravagance--5:5

Two thoughts are brought out by James on this charge.

 

1. They lived in pleasure on the earth

Ÿ         I’m reminded of the prodigal son at the beginning of his story - Luke 15:13 says, And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.  2 Timothy 3:1-4 says, This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

 

Ÿ         I wonder how many people who attend churches today could be called “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God”?  An outward form of religion is put on but really at the heart of the person is a love for pleasure and self, not a love for God.

 

2. They lived in wantonness (to live a willful wasteful life)

Ÿ         It is totally amazing how wasteful the affluent can be.  I’m sure the rest of the world looks at America, at us, and wonders why we live so wastefully.  In the context, the wealthy, instead of helping others in need, wasted their finances on things that didn’t matter an iota.  By the way, you don’t have to be fabulously rich to fall into this sin.  I wonder how much we waste of what God has given to us when it could be used to help others hear the gospel or meet their needs?  This is not to put a guilt trip on believers who are living from paycheck to paycheck.  We all know how expensive everything has become in our society, and sometimes it take just about everything you make to just get by.  But I bet each of us here could look closely at our spending habits and find areas that are really not needed.

 

Ÿ         The dictionary also defines “wantonness” as sexually lawless or unrestrained lasciviousness.” 

 

Illustration: When President Clinton named Kristine Gebbie - a lesbian - as the new AIDS czar in the mid-90‘s - she spelled out her perceptions on traditional morality. She said, "The United States needs to view human sexuality as an essentially important and pleasurable thing. Until it does so, we will continue to be a repressed, Victorian society that misrepresents information, denies homosexual sexuality particularly in teens, and leaves people abandoned with no place to go. I can help just a little bit in my job, standing on the White House lawn talking about sex with no lightning bolts falling on my head."

Ÿ         Notice the last part of verse 5 “ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.”  At first glance the thought of nourishing one’s heart is a positive thing, but we must keep in mind all that James has been writing here.  What is really taking place here is that the rich were so wrapped up with “feeding” or “fattening” themselves upon their pleasures and wantonness that they didn’t realize that they were doing the same thing that a farmer does for an animal they are going to slaughter - they fatten it up and then kill it.  Judgment day was just around the corner for these rich people, but they could care less and continued going to one drunken, debauchery  party after another.  They continued living for self and caring nothing for others around them.  God’s judgment of all those who resist Him and reject Him will come soon.

 

C. Charge #3: They were murdering the righteous who had never resisted them--5:6

Ÿ         James has already made reference to the evil intentions of the rich toward the believers in James 2:6,7 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

 

Ÿ         Some see in this verse a reference to what happened to Jesus Christ, “The Just One” at the hands of the Jewish leaders.  Obviously what this verse is saying did happen to Jesus, but I believe it is better to understand that “the just” is referring to those who have placed their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  In John 15:20 Jesus told his disciples that this would happen - Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

 

Ÿ         How are Christians to respond toward those who persecute them because of their faith in Jesus Christ? They are not to resist those who attack them, even as Jesus did not resist those who took Him and hung Him on the cross.  Peter speaks of this in 1 Peter 2:20-23 in the context of helping persecuted believers to respond in a Christ-like manner  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:

 

Conclusion: This is clearly a passage of scripture that was written to warn the ungodly, lost rich people of this world that, though they appear to get away with their sin and the suffering they bring upon others, they will, in fact, be held fully accountable one day by the Lord of Hosts.  If they persist in their sins and die in their sins without ever asking God for forgiveness and placing their faith and trust in the work of Christ for their sins, they will be lost and damned for eternity in the Lake of Fire, in Hell.  Is this only true for those who are rich?  Obviously not!  All people are sinners and separated from God because of their sins.  You don’t have to be rich in the things of this world to go to Hell.  You could be the poorest person on this earth and still, because of rejecting salvation, go to a Christless eternity.   Is there one here today who knows in their heart that if they were to die today, they know they would not go to Heaven?  Is there one here who has no assurance that they are ready to meet God?  Let me assure you that Jesus has already done the work for you, and God the Father has already accepted what Jesus did for you.  All you need to do is come in faith and accept that free gift that He offers you.  Why should you die in your sins when eternal life is being offered to you?

 

These first six verses of James 5 are a preparation for encouraging believers as well.  They were experiencing the insane wrath of the wicked rich against them.  They were seeing what the author of Psalm 73 saw and may have often wondered why these people seemed to get away with their sins.  Notice the first few words of James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. 

 

As believers, what should be our response to what we have studied today?  Should we jump up and say “Praise The Lord” that God is going to destroy all those wicked people?  That is what will happen, but if we have the love of God in our heart we will grieve for them even when they are attacking all that we hold to from God’s Word.  The things of God are under attack in this country, and it is a great evil, but we cannot, we must not hate the sinners who are lost in their sins.  They need to be warned of what awaits them.