James 5:1-3 - Your wealth has rotted

5:1,2

You have to love James’ style. We could do with more of this today. These verses would be a suitable riposte to the prosperity “gospel” merchants. We need to recognise the nature of sin within us, sin that is so easily kindled. There are various ways in which it is kindled, including pride, but money is one of the most powerful. Ultimately money is worthless, of no intrinsic value. Treated  properly it can be put to great use, made an idol it will ensnare us and cause much harm. And in the end all wealth is eaten up. So if money is our god we should indeed “weep and wail” because misery is coming upon us. 

5:3

“You have hoarded wealth in the last days”. Some of the end-time nutters (mostly in America) advocate hoarding stuff in the last days. This is not how we are meant to live. We are not to live in fear, instead we are to live seeking to do good.