Warnings to the Rich
Reflection
Begin your study by sharing thoughts on this question.
1. Think of a time when you were blessed by the generosity of a fellow believer. How did that affect
your life?
Question 1. One way your group can apply this lesson is to take a collection for someone else in your
church who is struggling financially. Consider giving money or a bag of groceries to someone in need.
Bible Reading
Read James 5:1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches
are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the trust of them shall
be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last
days. 4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud,
crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Saboath. 5 Ye have lived
in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. 6 Ye have condemned
and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
Discovery
Explore the Bible reading by discussing these questions.
2. In what ways do people oppress others for personal gain?
3. List some ungodly attitudes that cause oppression.
4. Why does God hear the cries of the oppressed?
5. How does God respond to the oppressed?
6. What results from self-indulgence?
Inspiration
Here is an uplifting thought from the Inspirational Study Bible.
We live at one of the great turning points in history. The present division of the World's resources dare not
continue. And it will not. Either courageous pioneers will persuade reluctant nations to share the good earth's
bounty, or we will enter an era of catastrophic conflict.
Christians should be in the vanguard. The church of Jesus Christ is the most universal body in the world today.
All we need to do is truly obey the One we rightly worship. But to obey will mean to follow. And He lives among
the poor and oppressed, seeking justice for those in agony. In our time, following in his steps will mean more
simple personal lifestyles. It will mean transformed churches … costly commitment to structural change in secular
society.
Do Christians today have that kind of faith and courage? Will we pioneer new models of sharing for our interdependent
world? Will we dare to become the vanguard in the struggle for structural change?…
I am not pessimistic. God regularly accomplishes his will through faithful remnants. Even in affluent nations,
there are millions of Christians who love their Lord Jesus more than houses and lands. More and more Christians
are coming to realize that their Lord calls them to feed the hungry and seek justice for the oppressed.
If at this moment in history a few million Christians in affluent nations dare to join hands with the poor around
the world, we will decisively influence the course of world history. Together we will strive to be a biblical people
ready to follow wherever Scripture leads. We must pray for the courage to bear any cross, suffer any loss, and
joyfully embrace any sacrifice that biblical faith requires in an Age of Hunger.
(From Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ronald Sider)
Response
Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.
7. List some of the negative effects that increased wealth can have on people's lives.
Question 7. Look up other portions of Scripture that speak about the negative effects wealth can have.
See Exodus 20:17; Proverbs 18:11; Luke 18:24; 1 Timothy 6:9–10.
8. How should Christians view wealth?
9. How can you use your financial resources for God's glory?
Question 9. See also Proverbs 11:24, 25; 19:17; 20:10, 23; 21:13; 28:2; Malachi 3:8–10; Luke 12:33–34;
Romans 13:6–7.
Prayer
Father, keep us from being so blinded by earthly possessions that we fail to see the eternal treasure we cannot
lose. Forgive us when we have worked for greed and gain. Thank you for the blessing of work and for the strength
to do it for you.
Journaling
Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.
How content am I with my financial situation?
Additional Questions
10. How can money keep you from doing God's work?
11. In what ways do you need to change your attitudes about money?
12. How can you use money to accumulate treasure in heaven?
For more Bible passages on warnings to the rich, see Proverbs 11:28; 23:4; Matthew 19:23, 24; Luke 6:24; 1 Timothy
6:9, 10; 17–19.
To complete the book of James during this twelve-part study, read James 5:1–6.
From Life Lessons from the Inspired Word of God—Book of James by Max Lucado. Copyright 1996 by Word Publishing. Published by Word.
