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After addressing the specific sins of "speaking evil of others" and "leaving God out of one's plans," James returns in chapter 5 to his now familiar theme of the negativity of riches. In discussing chapter 2, we learned that the Jewish people had been taught and conditioned by the Pharisees to believe that riches were a sign of God's approval. They were also taught that poorness as well as physical and mental handicaps were a sign of God's disapproval. James makes it very clear that this is not so. In chapter 2, James made the statement that "if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin..." (James 2:9). In other words, if you treat others differently because they are in some way different than you, that is sin! This still applies today: whether the perceived difference be wealth, social class, talent, physical ability, culture, skin color, or gender. As he had done throughout the book, we will see that while James is targeting the rich, he is teaching principles that apply to many other areas of our lives! In other words, you may not be the wealthiest person in the world, but learn the principle and you will find that it definitely applies to your life!

James liked shock treatment. In beginning to address the subject, James not only does not predict future blessing for the rich, but forecasts certain misery and downfall! To the Jewish people reading his letter, this was the proverbial slap in their face! In one sentence, James has opposed their false teachings and abruptly challenged their beliefs in almost a condescending way. Remember his "in your face" attitude here, for we will come back to it later.

James not only predicts miseries, but a total downfall of these rich people. He predicted that their riches would be corrupted which means to gradually come to a ruin or state of rottenness. He reminded that them that their nice clothing would eventually be motheaten. Their gold and silver will tarnish and become corrupted! Why? Not because having riches is sinful, but because of the sinful ATTITUDES that they allowed their great riches to give them.

They had "heaped treasure together for the last days." There is nothing wrong with having money set aside in planning and there is nothing scripturally wrong to save money. But the tendency of some people is, once they have the money saved, to trust in it! How many Christians do not call for the elders of the church to pray when they are sick, simply because they have the money and means to go to the doctor? There is nothing wrong with going to the doctor in itself, but we must trust God first!

We as Americans are rich. The government will pay for our medical care and our food if we so need it. We are free to choose a career that will make a decent income, and the government will even give us grants and loans to further our education. We are blessed with religious freedom and a homeland that is easily defended and that has never been seriously threatened by an invasion. We were shocked by the terrorist attacks last year, but many Americans have failed to realize that the Israelis have to deal with such terrorist attacks almost every day! The emotions and fear that came last September are the emotions and fear that every Israeli experiences EVERY DAY!

These blessings are within themselves not evil, and great men and women have sacrificed that we can have the freedom that we enjoy. The problem comes when we allow the riches and liberties that have been given us to cause us to trust in them more than God! One day, this great empire of America will come down, for the Bible says that EVERY knee shall bow, and that the kingdom of God will cast down EVERY kingdom. The blessings of America have lulled many people into a false security of spiritual ease. Most Americans that claim to be Christian do not have a meaningful relationship with God in any way. I remember the night the Gulf War started. My father had to rent the school auditorium that night because there was so many people at PRAYER! Hundreds of people whom we couldn't even get to darken the doors of the church nevertheless midweek prayer meeting suddenly had a need to talk to God. Sadly, after the initial shock of a week or so was over, I can't remember one person who actually stayed with truth! Those people were trusting in America and the peacefulness of our society more than God. They didn't need God until they saw their security up turned by war, and then when it became clear that America was handily winning the war, they transferred their trust back to America and it's riches and prosperity and suddenly did not need God again.

I love America and would not live any other place in the world. I thank God for our country and we need to support and pray for our leaders, but too many people in our country trust in the country and government more than they trust in God. Long after the remains of America are a distant memory, God will still be in control. Long after our social programs have collapsed, God will still be a healer and a provider. Long after every nation on earth has met it's demise, God will still all in all! But their actions show that many people trust in the establishment rather than God!

We cannot afford to make that mistake! To trust in the things that God gives rather than God himself is dreadful mistake that leads to a removal of the blessings of God. If God blesses you with financial wealth, talent, or any other way and then you begin to trust in that blessing for your security rather than the God who gave it, you are setting yourself up for a fall.

I remember the story told at last year's men's conference about a minister who had taught a Bible study to a young man who had nothing, and as the young man matured in God and began to financially give of his tithing and offerings, God eventually blessed him with a tremendous job making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. The first warning sign that something had gone wrong came when the man had to get out of being involved in some of the ministries of the church because his job demands were so much. The second warning sign came when the man begin to miss church here and there to check up on a job. Concerned, the pastor checked the tithing reports of the past year and realized that the young man's tithing and offering was not even close to the correct proportion of his earnings and lifestyle. The pastor prayed and decided to have a meeting with the young man to see if anything would change. The young man came into his office, now very much the picture of success and greeted the pastor with a now confident smile. The pastor spoke that it was good to see him, and that he was concerned because he had notice that his tithing did not seem to match his lifestyle or income. The young man burst out "what?" "Do you know how much I make now?" "Do you know how much ten percent of my income would be, and you expect me to pay tithes on it?" Grieved, the pastor got up from his chair and knelt in front of the young man. The young man nervously inquired what he was doing. The pastor replied, "I want you to be saved more than anything and you can't be saved robbing God." "So I'm going to pray that God will take away your business and will give you a job and a salary that you will be comfortable fulfilling the financial plan of God." As you can imagine the young man certainly did not want the pastor to pray such a prayer.

Had you asked the young man if he trusted in God more than money, he would have certainly replied that he trusted in God. But his actions showed otherwise. I do not know the end of the story and what happened later, but I can assure you that the young man had made the mistake of trusting in the blessings of God more than God Himself. When that happens, unless a change of attitude and actions happens, God has no problem removing the blessings so that He will be praised and trusted completely! As Christians we cannot trust in the blessings more than the blessor, and that applies to all areas of our lives! If we do so, the blessing will "eat our flesh as it were fire." That is, whatever we trust in other than God will eventually consume us and lead to our demise!

While the first sin that resulted from their riches was trusting in riches rather than God, yet another sinful attitude had also reared it's ugly head. The rich businessmen had hired laborers to reap in their fields and then not paid the workers the amount that they had agreed upon. Under the law, this was an abomination which means that it has not changed in Grace. When those who had been unjustly done cried out, God heard their cries! Notice that the term used for God here is "Lord of the Saboath" not Lord of the SABBATH" as many people teach. "Saboath" refers to the host of angels. So God was reminding them that He had the ability to respond and even send angels to bring justice in the situation! God has all the resources that He needs to deal with people who take advantage of others!

The rich men's sin probably came from the attitude that they felt "better than" their employees because of their riches. The lesson learned here is clear: God does not judge men according to their wealth or resources, but all men stand on level ground at the foot of the cross! Remember that Jesus Christ was the perfect man but by any days standards was a financial failure. He left a good paying job to become unemployed for 3 and half years. He did not have a bank account nor any money put back for retirement. He didn't even own a house and never traveled more than 150 miles from his place of birth.

Yet, even today there exists a prevalent belief that those who are financially blessed are "better than" or "in a different class than" those who are not as affluent. It even shows up in church when somebody will not befriend or fellowship with someone who is of a different social makeup or financial bracket. I have even seen people be shunned because of the car that they drive or the clothes and house that they had were not as nice or as expensive as others. That is having respect of persons and that is, very plainly, SIN! Money and things are no reflection of character and has nothing to do with class or righteousness! Even today women and certain races do not make as much money and have the job opportunities as some. That is respect of persons and that is SIN! Wages and payment should be a reflection of the attitude, ability, and diligence of a worker and should have nothing to do with their gender, class, skin color, or culture!

This is also a promise. If you do feel like you are being mistreated at work or not getting the wages due to you, then tell God so. Your cries will reach the "Lord of Saboath" and He will eventually make things right! Place it in God's hands and then continue working hard and diligently! When you do, God will begin to work behind the scenes and will either convince your employer of your worth, or will bring them down!

The first sin of riches was trusting in their riches rather than God. The second was not giving others what they were due. The third evil result of their riches was the sin of hedonism. "Hedonism" is the worship of pleasure. These men had allowed their wealth to cause them to give themselves to sensual pleasure and entertainment and to love those things more than the things of God.

"Day of Slaughter" was a celebration day and denoted the throwing of a party. For instance, when the prodigal son came back home, the father slaughtered a calf and began to make merry. The celebration was appropriate at that time because of the son coming home. Celebrations and entertainment as long as they do not violate the principles of God's Word are not sinful in themselves. The tendency of riches is to make a person more available to pleasure. If a person is not careful, then they will lose the spirit of sacrifice. God responds to sacrifice. In fact, an altar is no good without a sacrifice! Prayer in itself only benefits when followed with a life that glorifies God. If we are not careful, we can allow the love of pleasure to steal our ability to hear from God and crucify our flesh. When pleasurable activities steal our prayer time and our ability to go to the house of God, they have become sin. When our love of food overcomes our ability to fast, we are guilty of hedonism. I like to fish, but I do not go on Sunday. I remember growing up how that the male Sunday church attendance went down at the start of hunting season and the start of football season. Their actions proved that they loved pleasure more than the things of God. I can remember knowing who would not be there on Super Bowl Sunday. James makes it very clear: such actions is sin! Sin is what keeps us from walking in the realm of the Spirit that we should. It will keep us out of heaven and force us to the torments of hell. It's not real funny when you think about the droves of people who are living hedonistic lifestyles, serving pleasure more than God. They will plunk down hundreds of dollars for season tickets to the Spurs but can't go to church more than once a week and would never think about giving more than a George Washington in the offering. That lifestyle is sin!

Now we can realize why James was almost condescending and seemed to "talk down" to the rich in verse 1. To understand why James was so rough, remember that the Bible teaches us that we will reap what we sow. Jesus even applied this to his disciples and their treatment of others. Once when the disciples James and John were with Jesus when a town rejected His message, they wanted Jesus to "toast" the town by calling down fire from heaven!

They obviously felt that they were better than others because they had been chosen as some of the twelve.

Jesus also reinforced this principle at His arrest when Peter drew a sword and swiped off the ear of Malchus.

Jesus told Peter that all that "take the sword shall perish with the sword." In other words, whatever reason and method with which you attack others will be used upon you. Jesus then went on to remind Peter that He was the "Lord of the Saboath," the ruler of the angels! Jesus was saying "Peter, I have every resource that I need!" He could have called down twelve legions of angels if He so needed, but the precious Lamb of God was willingly laying down His life!

I'm sure that these words and this lesson came back to Peter's mind in Acts 12 when Herod had just killed James the brother of John by beheading him with a SWORD and then arrested Peter and placed him in prison for the same purpose. The church began to pray and an ANGEL came and led Peter out of that place. What was going through Peter's mind? He was remembering the night that he had tried to take off Malchus' head with a sword and the Lord of the host of the angels had taught him a lesson. God was reminding Peter that you must not look down upon people and attack, for if you do, then the same attack will come back to you. In the coming months, Peter would have to stand up for the Gentiles and God would be working to get ALL of the prejudice out of Peter. This event with the prison was just God's way of reminding Peter that "they who take up the sword will perish with the sword."

James said that these rich men had "condemned and killed the just." They were functional members of society and the church so it is probably once again not physical murder that they were committing but spiritual murder. Remember what John said:

These rich men had allowed their social differences to cause them to commit the sin of respecting persons. This had evolved into hatred and backstabbing with their mouth. In other words, prejudice, no matter what the root, will always manifest itself in hatred for the other person. That hatred will show forth itself through the mouth!

A person who is a male chauvinist will manifest their respect of persons through little comments and through their actions toward women in leadership. A person who is a racist, will find that prejudice showing through the jokes and the innuendos that they speak. A person who thinks that they are a better class than other people will reveal that hatred through their comments about people who are not as well off as they are.

I know many people who claim not to be prejudice but their mouth and actions tell otherwise. God is not interested in what you claim, He is interested in what you are. His Word emphatically states that if we have respect of persons, we commit sin!

The reason that James seemed to deal harshly and rudely with the rich men in verse 1 was because the Holy Spirit was anointing James to return the treatment that the rich men had given upon themselves! Be sure that the same manner that you attack, will be the same manner with which you are attacked!

If you discriminate against someone because they have a darker skin color, then do not complain when they discriminate against you for having a lighter skin color. If you are prejudice towards those who have less, then do not be surprised when you receive hatred because you have more. And vice versa. The laws of God are very much still in effect! But if you give love and mercy to all races, classes, and cultures, then you will receive love and mercy for your differences as well!

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Before we end our Bible Study, let me point out another common prejudice in church people that is a sin. This is the prejudice of spirituality. Let me explain.

When you receive truth, you have received the most important and expensive thing that there is in this world! When you receive the revelation of who Jesus Christ really is, and you see the need to be baptized in His name for salvation. When you receive and realize the importance of receiving the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance. When you receive the blessing and calling of living a holy and separated life. You have received the most precious item in the universe!

Jesus put it this way:

Paul even made it clearer:

This truth is something to be guarded and protected. It is something of which to be proud! When you got truth, you received great spiritual riches! Those who have truth, are rich!

But there is always the tendencies of riches to cause some to have respect of persons. To those who have the truth, there is a tendency to forget about what it was like when we were poor and did not have the revelation of Jesus Christ. There is a tendency to criticize those who are acting like we once acted. There is the tendency to think better of ourselves because we “have been saved.” But we must remember that we are “sinners saved by grace!” He has entrusted us with this precious truth in order to reach others with it! We must not allow the descending attitude of riches to get ahold of us and get a pompous attitude and become “untouchable.” Paul said it like this:

Do not flaunt your new found righteousness and revelations in such a way that it turns people off from the truth. Do not present it in such a way that it comes across condescending. We must remember that God has given us the truth so that we can reach others! We should thank God for the opportunity to meet someone who is not in truth, for that is an avenue through which God can work! But only when we do not have a “better than you” air.

Also people who find truth later in life tend to be prejudice towards those who have been raised up as “spiritual rich kids.” The spiritual poor will often lash out at those who have had this precious truth since they were a child. I have found, being raised up in truth, that certain people will forever hold against me the fact that I was raised in a home that preached the truth. To them, I will never be able to understand what they are going through, and will never be able to relate. That, however, is respect of persons and is reverse prejudice and is sin!

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As we are reaching the end of James, we can see that he has spent quite a large amount of time dealing with prejudices and the speech habits of the Early Church. This should be a constant reminder that we should be slow to criticize, and even slower to lash out with our tongue! Spiritual hatred and prejudice is just as bad as physical murder! All Christians need to learn to control their tongue better. Before you criticize someone, ask yourself what have you done as far as reaching out and lovingly helping them to change? If the answer is “nothing,” keep your mouth closed! If you have a problem with someone, then express that to them personally in order to get it right or take it to God! If God has blessed you in certain areas of your life, remember that the blessings are not a sign that you have “made it” or are better than anyone else. God has entrusted everyone of us with great riches in one way or another. Let us guard ourselves from having sinful attitudes from those riches!