Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged
March 2, 2022
Commentary
James does not say that it is a sin to be rich but he does condemn those who have put their trust in things that are doomed to decay (vv. 1-3). In the ancient world wealth was of three types: food (Luke 12:18), costly garments (Acts 20:33) and precious metals (v. 3). When James says, “Your riches are corrupted” (v. 2) he is probably including every kind of wealth.
As believers our own lives do not even belong to us (I Corinthians 6:19-20). God is the owner and He has placed us here as caretakers. This places a big responsibility on us with each thing the Lord has entrusted to us. It is possible to be poor in this life and to be rich in the next life. It is also possible to be rich in this world and poor in the next world.
James shows how the greedy attitude of the rich had manifest itself through the withholding of wages from those who had worked for them (v. 4). The Mosaic law specifically condemned this: “Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy ..” (Deut. 24:14). It seems that these rich, selfish, pleasure loving people were living in luxury while those who worked for them were living in circumstances of the most distressing character (vv. 5-6).
Application
A good question to ask is - How much of my time is spent in accumulating things that will only rust and decay? On the other hand how much of my time is spent on things that will last for eternity?
James 5:1– 6 (NET)
1 Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! 4 Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you.