Bible In A Year | Read: James 5
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. James 5:1-6
Overview of Chapter
Cause and effect are emphasized here. The wealthy are taking advantage of the poor and will eventually suffer for their unjust treatment of others. Those who are suffering are told to be patient because everything will be set right when Jesus returns. Those who sin need to confess. We are to pray for those who are sinning so they don’t suffer the consequences of their choices.
Enjoying something in the present and ignoring the consequences is a common failing. Our finances, health and relationships with Christ all suffer because we make choices without considering the long-term impact. Our best path is to turn from selfish choices that feel good in the moment and to help others do the same thing.
Thoughts on the verses
From the day we’re born, the world around us tells us we always need more stuff—ads on TV, comments from friends, even the expectation of getting lots of presents at birthdays and Christmas. We live in a world that tells us we need more and more and more things and then we’ll be happier.
The Bible tells us something different. In both passages today, we see that all the stuff we have here on Earth won’t count for anything in the end. We can be rich and have everything we think we need, but none of it is going to last. James tells us that wealth won’t count for anything in the end, and in the passage from Luke, Jesus shows us the end could come at any time.
So instead of buying more things and wishing for more money, we instead need to spend our time and energy on what matters: obeying God, loving others, and sharing the good news that Jesus has died for our sins. That’s what will bring real, lasting wealth.
Action Steps
Bible: What is God showing me? What am I going to do about it?
Bless: Serve one person through word, action, or gift today.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for the generosity You’ve shown me in sending Jesus to die for me so that I might be forgiven. Please help me to show generosity towards other people too and to focus my attention on obeying You instead of buying more things. Amen.
Have you ever thought it would be cool to hear some C3 leaders discuss the daily verses, share about their lives and mostly just talk about nonsense? Of course not!…even though nobody has ever thought that we are still doing it. You can follow along with us each morning in a brand new podcast – Brimstone Wednesday & Creepy Aaron.
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