Re:Verse passage – James 5:1-6 (day four)
James’ treatise on the misuse of wealth and riches was not an isolated passage in Scripture. Several of the Old Testament prophets called out the wicked rich. Isaiah, Amos, Jeremiah, Micah, Ezekiel, and Malachi all condemned those who misused their wealth. In the gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus likewise addressed those who did not walk in obedience to God’s commands concerning money. James notes four sins that lead to the severe judgment that come with the misuse of riches. He points out that not only were their riches uselessly hoarded, but also unjustly gained, self-indulgently spent, and ruthlessly acquired.
What does your handling of the material wealth that God has allowed you to possess say of your relationship to God? We can misuse small portions of money as well as large sums. What do people recognize when they see the role that riches, big or small, play in your life. Is the witness of money in your life a positive witness to others of your faith, dependence, generosity, and goodness?
