Study of James
Lesson # 16
The Sin Of Hoarding Wealth
Over & over in scripture the wealthy are warned about the temptations that face them because they are rich. Almost everyone wants to be rich, to have as much wealth as possible. We see the lifestyle, the luxury etc. but not the temptations that plague them. One of those temptations is to hoard their wealth & not share it with those in need or use it to meet the needs of a lost & dying world. Having riches is not sinful, but hoarding them & failing to use them for the good of mankind is sinful. James has some strong condemnation for those who have chosen to spend all their wealth selfishly. Looking at the context James appears to be condemning the wealthy individuals outside the church.
Note that brethren in vs.7 are mentioned in contrast to these rich oppressors.
1. Weep & howl = burst into weeping & howl with grief; to shriek & howl as those
condemned by God. Sob bitterly as one weeping for the dead. If the rich understood their fate they would indeed howl in pain & grief.
a. Miseries coming upon you wretchedness, distress & trouble. The same word
is used to describe the mental distress of the unjustified man in Rom.7:24
(O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me)
b. The trouble coming upon them can be one of two things
1) Their final condemnation at the judgment
2) The upcoming judgment upon Jerusalem & the Jewish people in AD70
c. James is not addressing the rich indiscriminately, only those who are
acquiring wealth at the expense of the poor.
1) Wealth in & of itself is not sinful, but hoarding wealth creates a false
sense of security.
2) Here wealth was obtained through unjust & sinful means at the expense
of others the poor.
d. Although James addresses non-Christians, the wealthy believer is not exempt
from the temptations associated with riches.
1) Prov.30:7-9 - "Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me
before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither
poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I
may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?'
Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my
God. (NIV)
2) 1 Tim.6:9,10,17 - People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a
trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men
into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all
kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from
the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (NIV)
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be
arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, (NIV)
2
2. The coming judgment upon the rich vs.1-3
a. In the ancient world there were three signs of wealth food, clothing &
precious metals. James mentions each deteriorating.
1) Rotted Their foodstuff such as grain & oil have become worthless, of
no value.
2) Moth-eaten clothes a moth eaten garment is practically worthless
filled with ugly holes.
3) Gold & silver have rusted (must be figurative - these dont rust)
b. These would be a witness against them & consume their flesh. James is
picturing the ruin that would come upon all who put their hope & security
in wealth. Their covetousness would eat at them & destroy them as rust
destroys metal. Mt.6:19-21 Dont lay up for yourselves treasures on
earth
c. Like fire rapid destruction coupled with excruciating pain.
3. Charges against the rich vs.4-6
a. They had not paid their employees.
1) 1 Tim.5:18 - Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading
out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." (NIV)
2) Matt 10:9-10 - Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your
belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a
staff; for the worker is worth his keep. (NIV)
3) Deut 24:14-15 - Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and
needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of
your towns. Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he
is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the LORD
against you, and you will be guilty of sin. (NIV)
4) In delaying paying the wages due them they were defrauding them. The
Lord Almighty hears the cries of His people.
b. Lived in selfish extravagance
1) Luxury & self indulgence suggests wastefulness & squandering
2) James uses the picture of fattening up an animal for slaughter like an
ox gorging himself not realizing he is preparing himself for the
slaughter.
3) They were filling their life with wasteful worldly pleasure seemingly
oblivious to the slaughter that was coming.
c. They used their influence to condemn & kill the righteous.
1) They pervert justice for their own gain
2) They take away anothers livelihood murder of the innocent
3) These rich oppressors, rather than using their influence to champion
what is right, choose to make the poor Christian the object of their
evil.
3
1. Be patient the Lord is coming vs.7,8
a. Patient carries with it the idea of longsuffering in dealing with difficult &
irritating people. Persevere in the face of difficult circumstances
1) God is longsuffering Rom.2:4; 9:22; 1 Pet.3:20; 2 Pet.3:9
2) We are to follow His example 1 Cor.13:4; 1 Thess.5:14
3) God wants us to put up with difficult situations & people, to restrain
ourselves from striking back.
b. This is not a sign of weakness but of Gods character Jonah 4:2; Ps.86:15
c. The Lord is coming He will avenge Rom.12:17-21
d. Example of patience the farmer he does his part & leaves the rest up to the
providential workings of God. He expects a harvest in spite of the
uncertainties of weather & pestilence.
e. We too must wait expectantly & patiently for God the idea is confident hope.
In spite of the difficult circumstances we are not to turn to self-pity of
complaining, but instead strengthen others & ourselves inwardly. The
Lord is at hand.
2. Dont fall into the trap of self-pity & faultfinding vs.9
a. Dont grumble to sigh or groan because of the difficulties
b. During times of difficulty & oppression it is easy to become impatient &
develop feeling & attitudes of criticism & faultfinding.
1) Moral can break down small irritations can cause hard feelings
2) This complaining can become reciprocal & we lash out at one another.
c. There is a higher judge He will repay & we will all answer to Him 2 Cor.5
3. OT examples for our encouragement vs.10,11
a. The prophets Heb.11; Mt.5:11,12; 2 Chron.36:16; Mt.23:29-31; Acts 7:52;
b. Job although impatient he remained true to God in spite of his afflictions.
Job 1:21,22; 2:10
1) What the Lord brought about
a) Conclusion blessed more than before
b) The maturity of Job
2) God wants us to face our difficulties properly so that we too might
mature & grow in faith. The rich may not have compassion but the
Lord is rich in compassion & tender mercy.