James 5:1 – Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 2 Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. 3 Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. 4 For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

5 You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you. (NLT)

Ouch! James has gone from practical faith to downright meddling!  Or so it seems when we consider this passage from a human point of view.  Does the Word of God condemn the rich?  Compared to most of the people in the world, and certainly when compared to even the rich of James’ day, we are the rich who live in luxury.  Do we not have most every desire of ours satisfied?  Then what are we to do with this passage that appears to condemn most middle and upper-class Americans? Let us remember, while Jesus certainly challenged the rich, there was only one person that he ever told to go and sell all that he had and give it to the poor.  Jesus was not anti-wealth.  The Word of God is not anti-wealth.  The Word of God is, however, opposed to those who value wealth over people.

Consider what the prophet Amos said to the rich women of the land.  “Listen to me, you fat cows living in Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, and who are always calling to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!”  (Amos 4:1 NLT)  Now forget the word ‘women’, this is the Word of God, so it speaks to all, male and female.  Forget the ‘drink’ in “Bring us another drink”.  In fact, you can substitute anything you want in place of ‘drink’.  Amos was telling the rich people that because they were living lavish lifestyles while people were starving, they were wrong and sinful in the eyes of God. 

This is what James is telling us in this passage.  Because God cares for every human being, we must care for every human being.  To have much is not a sin.  To have much and not be willing to give to those less fortunate is a sin.  Well, then, some may ask just how much we are required to give.  That, my friends, is between you and God.  You should, however, seriously talk this over with God!  It is the will of God that all Christians be generous.  Consider 2 Corinthians 9:6 – “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Then in verse eleven Paul writes: “You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God”.

Each of us, this very day, will be granted by God an opportunity to be generous.  Let’s be ready for that opportunity! 

Posted by Ramón Torres