Book of James
Chapter 5
“ Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” (5:8)
A Warning to the Rich
James 5 serves as a powerful reminder that true riches come not from material wealth but from a life lived in righteousness, patience, prayer, and care for others. It underscores that, regardless of our circumstances, we should turn to prayer, trust in the power of confession and forgiveness, and help restore those who have lost their way.
Warning to the Rich (James 5:1-6)
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
James issues a stern warning to rich people who have misused their wealth and exploited others. Their wealth will rot and become a testimony against them on the Judgment Day.
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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