I’m sure you’ve heard it said that the love of money is the root of all evil. I submit that the love of money only shows the sinful nature of our hearts. In James 5:1-6, James talks about the love of money. James is addressing the rich men who are getting their wealth by sinful means and then using it in a sinful way. We know that being rich was not a sin. Abraham was very wealthy, Job was wealthy, and many others are named in the Bible. However, I Timothy tells us that it is a great temptation. Wealth can very easily become a snare. It seems to many they love what wealth can bring to them, and soon have a great love for money. When we love money and covet money we are then on the path to destruction.
I Timothy 6:9 – 10 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
In James 5:1-3, he is giving them a warning of what is going to happen to them. These were unjust and oppressive men. James tells them to weep and howl. Why? Because they were going to be miserable. This would be expressive of very deep distress. The sudden distress that would happen to them would not only produce tears but loud outcries that were very intense. These rich men thought they had it made, but God thought otherwise.
James 5:1-3 “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.”
Riches will vanish. In verse 2, the word corrupted appears nowhere else in the New Testament. It means to cause to rot or destroy. These men were hoarding treasures. They had much more than they needed and instead of using their wealth to help others they laid it up. In the East, their wealth would include perishable materials such as grain, oil, or garments, not just money. Therefore, if not used in a certain period of time it would ruin. It is a great mistake to think that there is security in wealth.
Misused riches will erode character. This represents a present judgment. On its own money is not sinful. But, in I Timothy 6:10a, we learn that “the love of money is the root of all evil.” Abraham was a man of great wealth but he maintained his faith and character, yet Lot allowed his wealth to ruin his character and his family.
Judgment is certain, both now and in the future before God. In verse 3 the rich man’s wealth will witness against him. Their rotten grain, rusted gold, silver, and moth-eaten garments will bear witness to the selfishness of their hearts. The wages they held back in verse 4 will also witness against them. The stolen salaries will cry out to God for justice. The workers will also testify against them.
James 5:4-6 “Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just, and he doth not resist you.“
There will be no opportunities to bribe the judge or the witnesses. This judgment is serious. The lost will stand before Christ and be judged for their sins. The saved will stand before Christ and give an account of our works and ministry. Not only will we give an account for how we have used the wealth God has entrusted to us we will also give an account for the opportunities we are given.
What opportunities are you missing because you are caught up in gaining more? More money, more pleasure, or more things. Are you so concerned about the lost that you are willing to sacrifice to win them? Think about it. You don’t have to be wealthy for the love of money to rule your life.
