James: Where Faith
and Life Meet
Rich & Misery
5/20/12
Introduction:
Warren Sap was possibly one of the best defensive
tackles in the NFL back in the mid to late 90s to the early 2000’s. He was drafted in 1995 by the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers from the Miami Hurricanes for $36 million for six years. In 2004 he signed a seven year contract with
the Oakland Raiders for $36.6 million.
He played for 13 seasons in the NFL.
In his career he made seven Pro Bowl appearances and has one Super Bowl
win with the Buccaneers in 2002. It is
almost a certainty he will one day be inducted into the National Football
League Hall of Fame. Currently he is a Football commentator for the NFL Network.
In
April 2012 TMZ.com reports Sapp has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy
in Florida. They report Sapp owes more than $6.7 million, including nearly $1 million to the IRS
and hundreds of thousands of dollars in “support payments and alimony to at
least 4 different baby mamas.” Sapp
claims $6.45 million in assets, which includes 240 pairs of Jordan sneakers and sandals, a Lion
skin rug and a large nude women painting. He also has a De Grisogono watch (starting
prices around $3000 upwards to $120,000) but notes it has scratches on the
crystal and band.
Sapp currently earns $540,000 per year
working for NFL Network -- $45,000 per month – but according to the report his
contract expires in August and he does not know if he will be renewed.
What’s
interesting here is he claims to have lost the championship rings. Sapp’s Super
Bowl ring from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have considerable value (A Super
Bowl ring is valued at $30,000 – $70,000) as would his ring from the Miami
Hurricanes (NCAA Championship Ring is valued at $3,000 - $7,000). He told TMZ he’s not too broken up about
missing the Super Bowl ring.[1]
Stories like these are unfortunate but
all too common for young athletes and people who acquire a lot of money in a
short period of time in general.
Squandering wealth for selfish gain is apparently a problem for many
today and as we will see it was a problem back in the early Christian Church as
well. According to one report it’s
estimated that within five years after retirement, 60% of NBA players are
broke. And within two years after retirement, 78% of NFL players are either bankrupt
or under financial stress. They earn a lot of money in a short time, and
they’re usually young and have no idea what to do with it. Then, after
retirement, the money stops pouring in. So if they don’t plan, they become
broke before they know it.[2]
Warning to the Rich (A deeper look
into the passage)
Today’s text is James 5:1-6 and it deals
primarily with the issues of riches and wealth.
It us often read or preached with a theme that generally comes across as
a rebuke to wealthy people because they are rich. As a result many people who are wealthy
person often feel guilty for being rich and having much. This is a common mistake made by many. The theme
of this passage is not so much about having lots of money but more primarily with
having a lot of money and using it unwisely by squandering it away for selfish
gain or using your wealth to oppress and cheat those less fortunate. It is believed by many James now turns his
discussion from believers (remember he was talking specifically to wealthy Christian
business men who were ignoring God’s will and setting up business plans to go
out and make a lot of money) to now addressing the unbelieving wealthy. However the message he does give certainly
applies to believers as well and can benefit the church as well.
James
now targets the unrighteous wealthy land owners who are abusing or cheating
their workers. The structure and
manner in which James writes is very similar to the way an Old Testament
prophet would write to a someone who was about to receive judgments for their
unrighteous acts. According to Douglas
Moo, “The term ‘rich’ can occasionally be used as a synonym for the unrighteous
(he cites Proverbs 10:16 – 16; 14:20).
The prophets take up the theme, frequently denouncing the socioeconomic
oppression being practiced by the wealthy.”[3]
So we can conclude that the manner and style in which he is writing is aimed at
unbelieving unrighteous people.
Verse 1: James
proclaims a warning to the unrighteous rich about the coming judgment that is
upon them because of their selfish and oppressive use of wealth. He tells them of the misery that is coming
upon them. Most probably James is not
talking about a physical judgment or misery that is going to occur immediately but
most likely is referring to the judgment they will receive after they have
lived their lives in selfish and oppressive ways.
Verse 2: This
certainly is a reflection or reminder of the words of Jesus in Matthew 16:19 -
21
Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For
where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Jesus tells his listeners not to store up
wealth where moth and rust can destroy but rather lay up your treasure in
heaven. Matthew 6:19 - 21 is a symbolic way of saying that material wealth and
earthly treasures are unreliable and of little value in regards to the eternal
Kingdom.
Verse 3: James
reminds us that not only are their treasures useless, but they will also be
used against them in the last day as evidence of corruption. The wealth they were so dependant on for
their security in the last days will be of no use whatsoever and their
unrelenting greed and selfish accumulation will in fact be the one thing that
has assured them a place in an eternal separation from God.
Verse 4: Apparently
the workers (maybe some of the people in the church) were not paid for or were
cheated for the work they had done. These
workers most likely appealed to the earthly courts but to no avail so they made
their cry to heaven. The cries of
injustice by these workers who have been defrauded by the wealthy unrighteous have
captured the ears of God the Father and James ultimately says this injustice
will not go unpunished.
Verse 5: The word indulgent also means a life of
luxury, delicate or soft living… a pampered life. It’s not that the unrighteous wealthy
couldn’t afford to pay their workers they just flat out refused to pay. As their workers were living in destitute or
going without food the rich were living lives of luxury. They spent ridiculous amounts of money on
themselves on things they did not need all the while refusing to pay their
workers. By this neglect and downright
fraudulent action the wealthy were just preparing themselves all the more for
judgment.
Verse 6: The wealthy
persecuted and took advantage of the poor (probably Christian) so they could
gain more for their selfish lifestyle.
“The righteous person” refers to believers. Although the rich may have defrauded them and
even had them killed their cries are still brought before God and God is going
to deal with the unrighteous wealthy in due time.
Does This Apply To Me?
As we read through this passage you may be thinking
in your heart, “Yeah, you go get those rich scumbags God!” Or maybe you can actually say something
happened in your life where you felt cheated or defrauded so you can relate
with the righteous worker who was is treated poorly. Maybe some of you are thinking, “I am not
rich and I haven’t been treated poorly by a rich person so none of this applies
to me.” My response is this passage is
just as relevant to us as believers today as it is to unbelievers. In North America God has certainly blessed
each and every one of us with the necessary means to live our lives in relative
prosperity. Now, you may not think you
are rich, in fact you may actually think you are poor but the fact that we can
live at the standard of living that we do should in fact be an indicator that we
have some wealth. If you are a believer you are doubly rich because you have eternal
treasure that you can share as well.
I think the main point we should all consider
in this passage is what are we doing with the resources God has so generously
blessed us with? I have often heard
people say, “Money is a curse.” I would
agree with this only if what you mean is “I need to make money so I can have more
and hoard it to myself all the while neglecting the needy” then yes it is a
curse. If you and I are in bondage to
accumulating wealth then it most certainly is a curse. However as Christians we are called view and
use our money differently than the world.
Our children (and even adults) are bombarded daily with the idea that in
order to be completely happy we need more for ourselves. We need bigger homes that we cannot afford,
more cars than we actually need, the most up to date technological device to
keep us connected to the world, more clothes, and more luxury items. You cannot be happy if you do not have. I Timothy 6:17 – 19 is a good reminder,
“As
for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set
their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us
with everything to enjoy. 18 They
are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up
treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may
take hold of that which is truly life.”
James has accused and warned those of us
who have this mindset. He warns the rich
of hoarding, cheating, and devoting their lives to living in luxury all the
while neglecting to use our resources for the Kingdom of God. This is a warning we should all take
heed. You see the Bible doesn’t
necessarily condemn people of wealth because of their wealth. He condemns and judges the wealthy who allow
their riches to become their god and hoarding, accumulating and squandering it
all. No matter where you or I are
individually today as in all things we need to check our hearts when it comes
to the resources God has entrusted to us.
We also need to check our hearts and attitudes in regards to how we
treat those less fortunate or in difficult financial positions. Most of all we need to understand and come to
terms with the vast wealth we have spiritually.
We possess the greatest treasure
of all; the Holy Spirit which is Jesus Christ in us and we must be willing to
share him with others. As his children and servants we must allow him to
have complete control in all aspects of our lives (for everything we have is
given to us by Him) so we can in turn live as righteous men and women before
God Almighty.
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