James 5:2-3‏

2. "Your abundant wealth has rotted and is ruined, and your [many] garments have become moth-eaten."

When Thomas Aquinas visited Rome, and was shown the lavishness of the papal palace, the pope remarked to him, "Well, Thomas, the church in our day can not say, Silver and gold have I none. " "No," replied Aquinas, "neither can she say, 'In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.'"

We cannot hate the rich people in our church, nor in the world... quite honestly, when most common men are blessed with more than they need, rather than share, they will waste and spoil God's blessing. The same forces of our fallen world that weigh upon created man, eat and rust away also the things created for man. God's blessing is for today and if we receive more today than we need, then we were suppose to share... It's God's way.

3. "Your gold and silver are completely rusted through, and their rust will be testimony against you and it will devour your flesh as if it were fire. You have heaped together treasure for the last days."

Continuing the thought of "hording" for ourselves the blessings of God and the value we put on the blessing instead of Him (God) whom provides... I am led to the early teaching God gave His people in the wilderness. Listen...

"Then the Lord said to Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from the heavens for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My law or not." Exodus 16:4

"The [people] did so, and gathered, some more, some less. When they measured it with an omer, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack; each gathered according to his need." Exodus 16:17-18

Now God has never changed how He provides for His people... but has his people again, changed?

"But they did not listen to Moses; some of them left of it until morning, and it bred worms, became foul, and stank; and Moses was angry with them. They gathered it every morning, each as much as he needed, for when the sun became hot it melted." Exodus 16:20-21

James brings a terrible reality of what is happening all around us today. As we continue to move through these passages we will see how we hurt ourselves by our greed and ignorance as much as we have deprived others.

Let's pick up with James verse 5:4 next time.

I love you.