is it wrong to be wealthy?...

as i came to this section of the book of james i contemplated just skipping it and going on.  it is really a difficult thing to look at, this matter of money.  but there are truths here that we all need to see here at the beginning of 2012 so stay with me and let’s go.

we are looking here at the first six verses of chapter 5 here in the new testament book of james.  many people wrongly believe that the bible teaches that it’s wrong to be wealthy.  they think the bible says that money is the root of all evil.  it actually says that the love of money is the root of all evil.

in new testament times, there was no such thing as a middle class.  the people in the entire new testament times were either very rich or very poor.  you were either a have or a have not.  the system caused the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer and the rich tended to manipulate and oppress the poor people, who were continually abused.

now james lashed out at the non-CHRISTian use of money by the wealthy and he gives a rebuke – probably one of the most negative passages in the entire new testament.  he condemns them with four specific abuses they were guilty of.  although we may not commit these sins to the same degree, this passage is a healthy warning to us to make sure that no matter how much money we have, we use it wisely.

here in the united states according to world standards we are all wealthy.  if you own a car, you’re wealthy.  if you have more than one change of clothes, you are wealthy.  if you own your own home, you’re in the top 5% of the world.  we need to be grateful for what we have.

just a thought from the front porch…