1 THE POOR RICH [ P A R T T W O ]
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your JAMES 5:1-6 silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! THE POOR RICH
4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived JAMES 5:1-6 JAMES 5:1-6 luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. THE POOR RICH
Two Kinds Of THE “RICH RICH” People THE “POOR RICH” THE POOR RICH
Two Kinds Of THE “RICH RICH” People THE “POOR RICH” those who recognize the hand of those who have acquired money God and are righteous in their through unrighteous means and dealings; their blessings abound God will make their lives miserable. in all aspects of their lives . THE POOR RICH
THREE MAIN POINTS The Coming Miseries of 01 the Rich ( v. 1) The Sins of the Rich (vv. 4 - 6) 03 A. Withheld Pay of the Laborers (v. 4) The Losses of the Rich (vv. 2 - 3) B. Living for Oneself only (v. 5) 02 A. Temporal loss (vv. 2 - 3) C. Oppression of the Righteous Poor (v. 6) B. Eternal Loss (v. 3) 1. Timing THE POOR RICH
7 3. THE SINS OF THE RICH Verses 4-6 A. WITHHELD PAY OF THE LABORERS 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. THE POOR RICH
8 AORIST TENSE IN GREEK, signifies that the WORK WAS COMPLETE ALREADY 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. THE POOR RICH
9 AORIST TENSE IN GREEK, signifies that the WORK WAS COMPLETE ALREADY 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. “FIELDS” in Greek is “ choras ” which speaks of vast and extensive fields THE POOR RICH
10 G OD REQUIRES FAITHFULNESS IN OUR BUSINESS DEALINGS. THE POOR RICH
11 The injustice here in this passage was not a mere delay, but DEFAULT. THE POOR RICH
12 This INJUSTICE is like a CRY that reaches the THRONE OF GOD. The cry of the oppressed reaches the EARS OF GOD. THE POOR RICH
13 A Greek transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning ‘armies’ and used with κυ̂ριος a ‘Lord,’ 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who 12.9, as a title for God. It pertains to one who has overwhelming power—‘Almighty, All Powerful. mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the This should scare us if we are Lord of Sabaoth. PERPETRATORS of INJUSTICE and this provides COMFORT if we happen to be VICTIMS. THE POOR RICH
3. THE SINS OF THE RICH B. LIVING FOR ONESELF ONLY 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. THE POOR RICH
3. THE SINS OF THE RICH B. LIVING FOR ONESELF ONLY Notice the CALLOUSNESS OF CONSCIENCE and the INDIFFERENCE to the plight of the common laborer. How can one enjoy a luxurious lifestyle and pleasure, when you know that part of the money that you are spending is coming from the PAY OF THE LABORERS. THE POOR RICH
The word luxurious means “leading a SOFT LIFE” , in contrast to others leading a hard life. The rich many times are indifferent to the poor, because they have never experienced POVERTY, it is only when God brings them to poverty that they will understand what it means to be poor. THE POOR RICH
17 3. THE SINS OF THE RICH B. LIVING FOR ONESELF ONLY This indifference also comes as a result of GREED and SELFISHNESS. THE POOR RICH
18 3. THE SINS OF THE RICH B. LIVING FOR ONESELF ONLY 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. The slaughter here in Greek means “slashing the THROAT.” THE POOR RICH
3. THE SINS OF THE RICH C. THE OPPRESSION OF THE RIGHTEOUS POOR 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. Such actuations is like treating a righteous man like a criminal in the sense that he is being condemned or punished , not for wrongdoing but for doing good . THE POOR RICH
3. THE SINS OF THE RICH C. THE OPPRESSION OF THE RIGHTEOUS POOR 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. PUT TO DEATH may mean killing his dreams and aspirations for life or it may mean living so close to death because of hunger. THE POOR RICH
“Innocent men were defenseless persons, probably poor laborers. Poor people who could not pay their debts were thrown in prison or forced to sell all their family members into slavery. With no opportunity to work off their debts, poor people often died of starvation. God called this murder. Hoarding money, exploiting employees, and living self-indulgently will not escape God’s notice.” THE POOR RICH
3. THE SINS OF THE RICH C. THE OPPRESSION OF THE RIGHTEOUS POOR 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you. Another possibility according to Hiebert’s commentary on James, is that the rich actually hauled this poor people to court, which they actually controlled by BRIBERY. THE POOR RICH
THE RIGHTEOUS MAN DOES NOT TAKE VENGEANCE. HE LEAVES EVERYTHING IN THE HANDS OF GOD. THE POOR RICH
“VENGEANCE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD.” THE POOR RICH
25 THE POOR RICH [ P A R T T W O ]
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