Over the years I have met people with wealth who have seen it as a privilege and responsibility. People have used it to give back to God and to bless others. They live with an eye toward eternity. At the same time, I have met people for whom it is a vehicle to indulge in their own selfish pursuits and to hoard it for themselves. They live with an eye for the here and now.

In James 5:1-6, it is apparent that the people he is addressing are misusing their wealth. They were hoarding their riches, and they were cheating their workers. While living in luxury and wastefulness, they did not hear the cries of the needy. But God heard, and he tells the rich who have been selfish that their wealth will not last.

Riches can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Wealth can grow calluses and make us indifferent to the needs of others. It can give us a false sense of security and power and lead us to take advantage of others. But riches can also be a great blessing in the right hands. Throughout the Bible we meet several people who had great wealth, and they were a blessing to others.

As we turn our attention to James 5 this week, the temptation for us might be to say, “Well I’m not rich, so this passage isn’t for me.” Yet all of us must give an account for what we have and how we use it. Whether rich, middle class, or poor, all of us need to ask, “How did I get my wealth? How do I use my wealth? And is my wealth invested in God’s kingdom?” My prayer for us is that we will find ourselves seeking to use the gifts we have been given to benefit others.

Grace & Peace,

Pastor Aaron