In God I Trust

DEVOTION
JAMES
IN GOD I TRUST
James 5:1-6
5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.
NIV
A mouthful to say the least, Again I cannot break this down for it is but one idea, I thought, I fact of condemnation against hoarding money for self pleasure. It is about the temporal vs. the eternal if it is about anything at all. But I dare to ask myself am I among the rich. Surely just being an American qualifies me as rich compared to all the peoples of the world. I have much compared to so many of the truly poor of this world. I am living in luxury compared to so many. Yet I am not convinced this speaks to the any person’s position in the world society. Jesus said we will always have the poor among us. No matter how much any person gives to the poor of the world, it will never be enough, the poor will always exist and they will always be in need. Although I believe I should help when I see a need as directed by God, and that help should be anonymous for God has told me in my giving I should not let my right hand know what my left hand is doing. I think these words speak more to the hoarding of an abundance of money for self use. I believe it speaks to putting my trust in money rather than in God. I do not condemn anyone for being wealthy, thinking just because they have wealth they are condemned. I do believe their wealth will condemn them if they are trusting in that for their financial security. I cannot be like that. True I am not wealthy in that sense. Maybe I could have been had I not been saved and learned the truth of God regarding this issue. When people cheat others for they own personal gain, not being honest or overcharging for their services it slaps God in the face. Maybe when I was in business I undercharged and that cost me financially. Maybe I am just a lousy businessman. Maybe I was never intended to be in business. No God directed my path. I was an am where he has always wanted me to be. I do not trust in anything except him. I could not stand it, I would rip my clothes and put on sackcloth and cover myself with ashes if I thought he was telling me my wealth cries out against me, that I have created those who worked for me in the past. I would repent beyond repenting if I mistreated any who labored in my business. No, I am secure in my heart with God, I have done what he has asked of me. In God I trust.