James 5:1-3a “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver has corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire.”
Dearest Lord, wealth usually corrupts unbelievers, but it can also corrupt Christians. I know for a fact that wealth does not always corrupt, but it can. In my lifetime I have only known 2-3 Christians I would call wealthy and in all cases, they have simply been channels of blessings to others. Here in James, You are strongly warning that riches themselves are worthless, and will be when You return. You are not saying that the wealthy people are worthless. You love them and died for them too.
You are warning us not to get caught up in the wealth You have provided. The love of money can very quickly replace love for You. When we selfishly hold on to what You have given, we start to trust in it rather than trusting in You.
Wealth shared is Your way of providing for our pastors, missionaries, and the running of Your church and its ministries. Wealth hoarded is sin. Lord, You have always provided for us, but we have never been rich by America’s standards, and I rejoice in that! In Your Word, I read all of the “Woe to you rich” passages and rejoice that I am not. You are much more precious than all of the riches in this world! This world is not my home, so why should I desire to store up riches here where all of the above in this verse can happen and my wealth is taxed as well?
Thank You Lord for allowing me a different citizenship so I do not have to run hard after the riches of this world!
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