James 5:1‏

5:1. "Come now, you rich [people], weep aloud and lament over the miseries (the woes) that are surely coming upon you."

Here we go again with the "come now"... so, we Christians, must "consider" what James is saying. Weep and howl for your miseries. James refers here, in the spirit of prophecy, to the destruction that was coming upon the Jews, not only in Judea, but in all the provinces where they traveled. In the most dignified language and peculiarly expressive and energetic images, he foretells the desolations that were coming... and did come. So does this apply to us? Well, John has done the same thing for our generation, and the world situation for Christians today is no different.

Now, we can argue about Pre, Mid, and Post-Tribulation, but one thing for sure, "Things are going to get worse" as we move toward John's prophecies! Yes, there is going to be... and already, there is much to lament over... but what do rich people... Christians, even, have to do with this? Now, many might argue that James can't be talking about Rich Christians, but part of the problem is that "we" do not agree with God as to what "rich" means. As we drive across America today we see storage facilities popping up everywhere. We see summer homes, winter homes, beach houses... you call them what you like, scattered all across the nation, fully furnished and ready for the two or three months that the owners will live in them. Then they are locked back up for the rest of the year while the owners are in their other house... or other houses. Is this a sin? I don't know... but we can't pretend to be ignorant. When we stand before God, and the scenes from life are flashed before us... pictures of homeless, needy "believers in the same God", all across the nation struggling within reach of these people God says are rich... how will He deal with such an enigma?

Keep in mind, I've only dropped a drop into the bucket full of the lavish extreme difference between the haves and the have nots. Has God not said it should be different? Oh dear brethren... weep aloud and lament over the miseries (the woes) that are surely coming.

Let's pick up with James verse 5:2 next time.

I love you.