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 rust 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 labourers 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 sabaoth. 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. (James 5:1-6)
James seems to be written to Christians, is this also written to Christians?
I generally consider everyone in Australia to be rich, but maybe this is an unhelpful comparison which is not at all what James intended. The general perception that we in the West are the "rich" and those elsewhere are the "poor" who need our help may be just that, a perception. Jesus is not so interested in social justice as a "just us" you and me with a good and holy character. We need to personally use what we have to help those who do not have, this is not limited to finances.
There are some social justice aspects of this text however. Taking advantage of people. If you shop for the cheapest product and don't question why it is so cheap you are surely doing this. Perhaps looking for a pay rise can be an example of this too.
I have begun wondering recently perhaps I should fully disclose my income and expenses if I become a pastor. If nobody knows what I earn, spend or give, how can I be a good example? It doesn't make any sense. Lord give me wisdom regarding this.
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