James: More GraceSample

Repent, while you still can.

‘Now listen, you rich people,’ James says (v. 1). What he has to say to them is stark and terrifying. It should make them tremble.

• What should the rich people he is addressing expect in the future (v. 1)?

These rich people have a terrible future. Misery will come upon them because it seems these people are sinful, unrepentant and facing the judgment of God, as we shall see. They ought to be weeping and wailing, either in repentance or in sheer terror. It seems unlikely that these rich oppressors are members of the congregation; more likely, James is proclaiming God’s verdict on these evil doers so that the believers they oppress are reassured that justice is coming.

These rich people employ workers to harvest their crops, but they fail to pay them (v. 4). Instead, they keep their gains for themselves. They hoard their wealth, living lives of luxury and self-indulgence on earth (v. 5). Their corruption and injustice know no bounds. They have even ‘condemned and murdered the innocent one’, who was not opposing them (v. 6).

But evil does not go unnoticed and it will not remain unpunished.

• These rich oppressors may think they have got away with their actions, but they haven’t. Why (v. 4)?

Those who are treated unjustly cry out for justice. It may seem as if no one pays any attention, but the Lord Almighty does; he is amassing evidence for his coming judgment. Those unpaid wages cry out against these rich oppressors too and God takes note of it all.

James puts a very different perspective on the hoarded wealth of the rich and their lavish, self-indulgent lifestyles. The rich may feel pleased to be piling up money, rather than paying the wages they owe. But James pictures hoarded wealth as rotting and corroding (vv. 2–3). In the end, it will do these rich people harm not good. It will be more evidence against them at the judgment, testifying against them. On that day, their hoarded wealth won’t just be destroyed; it will destroy them, eating their ‘flesh like fire’ (v. 3).

These are the ‘last days’ before God’s terrible judgment. Earthly wealth will soon be gone – how foolish not to use it for good while we have the opportunity!

These rich oppressors have every selfish indulgence now, but judgment is coming. As they gorge themselves on luxuries, they are really just like animals unwittingly fattening themselves up ready for a trip to the slaughter house (v. 5). They should wake up and repent, while they still can.

Pray

Thank God that one day he will judge and end all injustice, and pray that those who live as his enemies would repent and receive his grace before it is too late.