The Real Story Behind the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
James 5:1-6
Our family likes to vacation in Accadia National Park in Maine. Two years ago we were spending some time walking around Bar Harbor. We went down to the dock to look at the boats. It was dusk. There at the dock was a fisherman unloading his catch and doing some minor repairs on his boat. He had a dim light on in the cabin and one on in the hull and I could see he was tired and weary. The boat showed its wear and so did the fisherman. On the other side of the dock were three large yachts. They were huge. One of them was from San Francisco. At least that is what was written on the stern of the yacht. There were lights on here too and I could see this gentleman inside sitting back in a nice comfortable chair reading a newspaper (maybe it was the Wall Street Journal) and sipping on a drink. It was a real study in contrasts. It might not have been a study between the rich and the poor but it was a study between opulence and necessity. Now again I did not know either man. The man on the yacht may have been a very generous and caring man, a great philanthropist. This yacht may have been his only home. The fisherman may have been a miser with a yacht docked elsewhere on the island. What the contrast pictured to me is that earthly wealth and material possessions have a way of easily impressing us. Of the two boats in the water that night the slick yacht drew my attention more than the rusty fishing bucket. Why is that? If we are honest we all must say that we too are easily impressed and intrigued by wealth, riches, opulence, extravagance. We are easily enamored with the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
The gift of wealth (and it is a gift) must be handled with extreme care. Mammon has a way of quickly seducing the soul and entrapping the heart of people. It is a gift that comes from God with a huge sign that reads “Caution, handle with extreme care.” We see a part of that sign in today’s text.
James directs his attention toward the wealthy. Some think that James is really speaking to rich and abusive unbelieving landowners, for whom some Christians may have worked as laborers. The reason why some think that unbelievers are being addressed is that the tone of these words is a straightforward proclamation of certain judgment. There is no appeal to repentance and faith. The Judgment is certain and immanent. While this may be so, these words at least indirectly speak to believers. Just like Sir Winston Churchill's war speeches, though directed toward the enemy, served to bring hope and encouragement to Britain, so James' words no doubt brought encouragement to those poor believers who had and were being unjustly treated and persecuted by the rich. James follows this sharp denunciation of the rich, with a call to patience in the face of unjust suffering. The Psalms are replete with similar calls to the saints reminding them that God will bring his judgment on the wicked who oppress the righteous. God is the champion of the poor and needy. His mighty hand will bring destruction upon the heads of all who use their wealth and power to harm others.
John Calvin sees another reason why these words, though addressed to unbelievers are instructive to the saints. "In my opinion it would be mistaken to think James here is urging repentance upon the rich. Rather...this is a straightforward declaration of the judgment of God, to strike them with terror and to remove all hope of pardon. He does not approach them with words which invite a change of heart; no, he is really looking to the men of faith, that they may attend to the sad ruin of the wealthy, and not be envious of their prosperity."
So first James pronounces the judgment. "Come now you rich, howl and cry loudly because of your coming distress and wretchedness." This declaration is intended to strike horror in the heart and mind. God's judgment and wrath are horrible realities. As believers, we must not minimize God's wrath: the certainty, severity and justice of His wrath. A wrath we escape not because of our righteousness, but because of Christ having tasted that wrath for us. On Him we have come to believe. Then James gives four reasons for the certainty and severity of the judgment of God, the Lord Sabaoth.
Not All the Wealthy Are To Be Judged
There was a popular television show in the 80’s called “The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” The show's host Robin Leach was very animated and enthusiastic as he led us on tours of celebrities’ homes and luxurious lifestyles. It was all so wonderful and as you ooed and awed about all the opulence you found yourself wishing that you could live the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Well James gives us a whole different perspective. What you are about to hear is the real story behind the lifestyles of the rich and famous. But before we continue, a slight detour is appropriate. James is not speaking against wealth or all wealthy people. It is God who grants wealth to people. He uses the means of industry and hard work, or even inheritance.
Wisdom is speaking and declares: “With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.” Proverbs 8:18
Wisdom speaking again says that she “bestows wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.” Proverbs 8:21
“Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Proverbs 10:4
“The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, and he adds no trouble to it.” Proverbs 10:22
“A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.” Proverbs 13:22
“Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” Proverbs 19:14
What we need to be concerned about is how wealth is obtained, how it is used and what hold it has on the heart. Wealth is a gift from God that is to be used for his glory.
“As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor -- this is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 5:19
However it is a gift, which if not handled wisely can be very dangerous and even damning.
So it is not wealth or every wealthy person James has in view, but only those wealthy (professing Christians or not) that fail to use their wealth wisely. So now we turn to the real story behind the lifestyles of the rich and famous. There are four sins that James underscores in his judgment on the rich who misuse their wealth.
1. Selfish Accumulation of Wealth
The first sin that James mentions is the hoarding of resources and wealth (verse three). Such hoarding of wealth is wrong for three reasons. First, it marks the fact that our priorities are wrong. What we hoard we tend to treasure. We tend to feel the need to protect our accumulated wealth. Jesus spoke of the fact that where your treasure is there your heart will be also. Second it is evil because God has intended that the goods of this life are to be used to sustain life and bring joy and assist those in need. To accumulate wealth or to hoard resources means that they are not being used. People that need food, clothing, money etc., are going without. Third, James states that not only are the rich hoarding but also what they have hoarded is being wasted. The riches (possibly foodstuffs) and the clothing (implied here is more clothing than they need and probably what has been stored) are rotting and being moth-eaten. Of course gold and silver do not corrode. One commentator points out that the reference to the rusting of precious medals was understood figuratively. One ancient Jewish source has these words: "Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend, and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost. Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High, and it will profit you more than gold."
The question concerns the nature of true investing. Jesus uses the illustration of investment and savings in his parables.
Scripture is not opposed to you having a savings account or in making wise investments. Christian financial counselor Larry Burkett gives three Biblical reasons for investing. “1.Multiply to give more. The parable of the talents recorded in Luke 19:12-26 tells us that God entrusts wealth to some of His stewards so that it will be available to Him at a later date. The management of wealth requires that it be invested or multiplied. 2. Meet future family needs. The indication throughout God’s Word is that the heads of families should provide for their own (1 Timothy 5:8). Good planning requires laying aside some of the surplus for future needs. 3. Further the Gospel and fund special needs. This type of giving is necessary to maintain and promote the Gospel. If the church is ever to break out of the borrowing habit, Christians who invest must maintain some surpluses and be willing to give to legitimate needs.”
The Scriptures have great deal to teach us about money and how we can legitimately accumulate it or receive it as well as the dangers that come from possessing it.
It is Biblical to accumulate an inheritance so as to pass it on to family and it is legitimate to receive income by means of an inheritance. Proverbs 13:22; 19:14 and Psalm 112:1-3.
God blesses hard work done in faith (doing your work as unto the Lord) and he warns us that idleness and sloth lead to poverty. Proverbs 14:23; 20:13; 28:19.
The focus on our lives is never to be on getting rich or pursuing wealth but on diligence, hard work, responsibility generosity and even frugality concerning one’s lifestyle. Proverbs 28:22; 30:7-9; Psalm 37:16
“There is a severe evil, which I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.” Ecclesiastes 5:13
“Whoever loves money never has enough money; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.” Ecclesiastes 5:10
James Kistemaker writes: "The hoarding of silver and gold simply for the sake of hoarding does not serve any meaningful purpose. In a sense, metals are as useless as if they were thoroughly corroded." Also in view of the eternal perspective, the uselessness (or figurative rust) of accumulated gold and silver, will be a witness against them and like a consuming fire. It is foolish in these last days (which began with the coming of Christ) to hoard wealth. For it is as though the accumulated wealth becomes the kindling for the eternal judgment fire. In this sense such wealth has indeed been wasted. Jesus calls you to invest your treasure in heaven and not on earth. To accumulate treasure on earth is ultimately to waste it all.
2. Stealing From the Poor
The second sin of the rich that James mentions is that they defrauded their workers of their wages. Thus the rich stole from the poor. (Verse four). In that day laborers worked for daily wages. The prompt payment of wages was important because they lived from day to day. So their very lives and that of their families were dependent upon getting paid daily. The wealthy would hire laborers to plant and harvest their fields, but withheld their wages. The idea is that they cheated these workers. Those withheld and hence stolen wages, cry out against the rich and the cries of the harvesters arise to the ears of the Lord of Hosts. Here this sin is classified under the Old Testament prophetic warnings against abusing the poor and needy.
“Do not defraud your neighbor or rob him. "'Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.” Leviticus 19:13
“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.” Deuteronomy 24:14-15
"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty.” Malachi 3:3
The Lord of Hosts is the champion, protector and defender of the poor. His mighty hand will eventually come against those who engage in unjust labor practices. The rich who have the ability to pay a just wage, in their greed withhold.
3. Self-indulgence
The third sin of the rich is that they live a life of self-indulgent luxury (verse five). This shows that they are indeed selfish and are unconcerned for the needs of the others. This idea of luxurious living coupled with lack of concern for others was typified in the lives of the citizens of Sodom.
“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.” Ezekiel 16:49
In the self-indulgent feeding of their hearts, they have only fattened themselves for the day of slaughter. This is strong figurative language analogous to domestic animals that gorge themselves on grain and corn oblivious of their end. The day of slaughter is a term that is used in Scripture to depict the final Day of Judgment. It parallels verse two: "fire will consume your flesh." Both ideas point to God's final judgment.
Calvin's comments are to the point. "Though the Lord permits them to live generously at His supply, yet one must beware of being lavish and keep respect for plain living. All this is said to make us keep a perspective in all our creature comforts; self-indulgence wins no favor with God."
4. Murder
The final sin that James describes is murder; more specifically murder that is sanctioned by an unjust use of the legal system of the day. The word condemned is a judicial term and points to some kind of legal action the rich took against the innocent who did not resist them. The rich abused justice to harm the innocent poor. Murder may be used in a figurative sense. There is another ancient Jewish source from around the second century BC written by one Rabbi Joshua ben Sira: