Warning to Rich Oppressors 5 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 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.
The illusion of wealth is an idol that pulls us into at state of opposition to God. The reason James talks about the wealthy, in particular, is for the same reason that the bible normally addresses the rich. It isn’t necessarily calling out people of status, or in a certain bracket, but the rich are always identified with an arrogant independence. People who chase money are chasing something opposite of God’s will, Thus, they act outside God’s will (1 Tim 6:10). Those with their eyes set on the world (this life) alone do not have the eternal outlook God desires. They live for themselves. When James gives us three examples of the frailty of riches, it is to make a very succinct point: Wealth (Rotted, regards to food), Garments (Moth-eaten, refers to clothes), and Gold & silver (Corroded, refers to money) are the very things that a person focused temporally will strive after. These are basic needs which God has already told us are provided for us (Luke 12:22-34).
These very things will testify (witness) against us. The way we live our life, and what we strive after, are the very things we will be judged on. It is a life lived independently of God. In John 15:5-8, Jesus tells us that a vine cannot exist independently of the tree. We cannot operate independently of the source of our life, which is God. When we try to do that, we are acting against His will. We must set our minds on eternity.
No one articulates the problem with the pursuit of wealth than Solomon. In Ecclesiastes 5:10-17, we get a very good view of where the pursuit of fortune gets us:
10 Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless. 11 As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owners except to feast their eyes on them? 12 The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether they eat little or much, but as for the rich, their abundance permits them no sleep. 13 I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owners, 14 or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when they have children there is nothing left for them to inherit. 15 Everyone comes naked from their mother’s womb, and as everyone comes, so they depart. They take nothing from their toil that they can carry in their hands. 16 This too is a grievous evil: As everyone comes, so they depart, and what do they gain, since they toil for the wind? 17 All their days they eat in darkness, with great frustration, affliction and anger.
Verse 10: The pursuit of wealth does not satisfy Verse 11: As wealth increases, so do expenses; it is never enough Verse 11: There is no benefit except earthly pride Verse 13: Wealth harms the owner Verse 14: Wealth is often lost Verse 15: You cannot take it with you
Solomon lays out a path that is devastating to the person who is lost in pursuit of riches. And as we read this list, written over a thousand years ago, we see that it is still as true then as it is today. When we pursue riches, for riches sake, it is detrimental to us physically and spiritually.
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. The rich, in their arrogant independence, forgets about treating people correctly. The rich live without regards to others and the poor (oppressed) have little satisfaction of justice in this life. As the rich trample the poor and cause this injustice, James reminds us that God hears their cries. And God, the true judge, promises justice.
Patience in Suffering 7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Patience and endurance is a hallmark of Christian living. Persevering through trials is a testing of our faith. The testing of our faith leads to a maturity in Christ. It tackles the issue. If the issue returns, we have the wherewithal to approach it with calmness and clarity. It is strength built in us from the creator.
In this example, the farmer is patient. For much of the time the farmer does not see the fruits of his labor. He must till the land, plant, cover, water, and wait for the rain. But its essential that the farmer not lose hope. There is an early rain, which softens the earth and prepares the seed for growth, and a later rain that brings the plants to maturity. Both he must wait on. He cannot rush the rain. He must endure. In the same way, we are to endure trials; God’s timeline is unknown, but He is building perseverance in us.
9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Grumbling against one another is a sign that we haven’t endured to the end. We’ve come out of the trial with impatience. We’ve taken the reins and told ourselves it is time to stop. And we may find the fault of our situation as someone else’s. We begin to grumble against them. But here’s the situation: grumbling (complaining) isn’t acting in accordance with the will of God. We act in defiance of Him. We become the judge. And we will be judged on it.
Trials have a way of nubbing us down to the core. We get harsh, we get tired, we just want it over. But we can’t let our trials affect our heart. We must still move forward, committing to the relationship with our Father and with others. Going back to the source is always the answer.
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
James gives us the examples of the Prophets and Job as people who had to endure trials. Many of the prophets died preaching the word of God. Job endured trial after trial. Especially from the story of Job we find some real connectivity. Job was put through a trial when God allowed satan to test his faith. Chapter after chapter we see tragedies affect Job, but we also see that God’s doing it for a reason: he’s refining Job, he’s making him better through his adversities, and even though it is excruciatingly hard at times, in the end Job is a better man. A stronger man. This is the process that me must go through to be refined by God. We don’t learn through good times.
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
James tells us to define our answers. Invoking the name of God in our answers shows a lack of character; our words should stand on their own. 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
Instead of succumbing to trial, the answer is prayer. What if you aren’t going through trial? The answer is the same: pray. The connection to God is the key to both trial and happiness. What if you are sick? Call the elders to what? Pray. And apply oil. Oil was used as a medicinal ointment in this timeframe. In other words, there is a spiritual and physical element to everything: an application to the spirit and flesh that both help us in our journey.
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Can prayer heal someone? Is this a spiritual or physical application? The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. But we need to get the motive right. We need to be living righteously (in connection with God, in righteous living in the world). If we want the power of prayer to be effective, it starts with getting the heart right.
Confession is the second part of this equation. Confession brings spiritual and physical healing to those confessing. It also removes the hindrance to the Holy Spirit. It destroys secret sin. When we confess to each other and to God, we step into a new level of relationship.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
A final example is that of Elijah. Elijah was a normal guy, yet he could stop and start the rain. How is this possible? The entire story of Elijah is marked by deep connection to God through prayer. Prayer and connection, again, are the keys.
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
Helping a sinning Christian, or the unsaved, is an important function of someone who has active faith. Why? Because your active faith helps you interpret who needs what degree of help from you. If a Christian is in trouble, we need to guide that person back. If it is the unsaved, then our example needs to be there to intrigue. Our love needs to be on display. We need to comfort both parties, but it only happens when we are perceptive and led by the spirit to do so.
This brings a person into restoration. That means that the relationship is once again whole, the lines are open, confession and forgiveness has happened. This is a blessing for both. Sometimes we need the help, sometimes the other person does.