How the Rich Used Their Money (5:3–5)

James was concerned about how selfish the rich were, so he told them to "weep and howl." He gave three reasons for his advice.

Second Reason: How the Rich Used Their Money (5:3–5)

It is bad enough to get rich in a sinful way; using that wealth in sinful ways only makes the sin worse.

They put it away (v. 3). There is nothing wrong with saving money. "Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children." (2 Cor. 12:14). “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Tim. 5:8). "Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury [interest]" (Matt. 25:27).

However, it's not right to store up money when you owe your workers money. These wealthy men were keeping grain, gold, and clothes for themselves. They believed they were wealthy due to their possessions. Instead of using their money to glorify God and store up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19ff.), they were selfishly keeping it for their safety and pleasure. The Romans took all of this wealth less than ten years after James wrote this letter.

What did Jesus mean when he said to "lay up treasures in heaven"? Did He mean we should "sell everything and give to the poor," like He told the rich young ruler to do? I don't think so. He talked to the rich ruler that way because the young man's biggest sin was greed, and Jesus wanted to show it. To store up treasures in heaven, we must use everything we have as managers of God's wealth. We may have many things, but we don't own them. We are God's stewards, and He owns everything.

Aside from God's will, the things we possess and use are merely objects. When we give in to His will and use what He gives us to serve Him, we are investing in eternity, and things become treasures. God keeps the records of what we do on earth and pays the interest.

It is sad to see people "heap up treasures for the last days" instead of "laying up treasures in heaven." The Bible encourages saving and investing but discourages hoarding.

They kept others from benefiting from it (v. 4).
The rich men stole from the poor by lying to them. The wealthy individuals hoarded their resources and refused to compensate their laborers or allow them access to wealth. Maybe they were waiting for their salaries to go down.

As caretakers of God's wealth, we have some duties to our Master. We must be faithful and use what He gives us for the benefit of others and the glory of God. “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Cor. 4:2). Joseph was a competent steward in Potiphar's house, and Potiphar did well. We can use God's riches to help other people.

They lived in luxury (v. 5). "Ye have lived in pleasure [luxury] on the earth. . . ." (James 5:5). Being wasteful is a sin.

An ad in a magazine told the story of an oil-rich sultan's shopping spree. He bought nineteen Cadillacs, one for each of his wives. He paid extra to have the Cadillacs customized with longer bodies. He also bought a truck to haul his $40,000 speedboat, along with two Porsches, six Mercedes, and an additional truck. Sixteen refrigerators, $47,000 worth of women's luggage, two Florida grapefruit trees, two reclining chairs, and one slot machine are also on the list. He had to pay $1.5 million for everything and another $194,500 to have it all delivered. What a life of luxury!

We all appreciate the good things in life, and we would never want to go back to living like animals. But we do know that there is a limit to how much we can get. The Quaker said to his neighbor, "Tell me what you need, and I will tell you how to get by without it." Jesus said, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." (Luke 12:15). James addressed the rich men who were indulging in their wealth while neglecting their own well-being. The Greek word "nourished" depicts cows being fed up for slaughter.

It is very different to enjoy what God has given us (1 Tim. 6:17) and to live in luxury on what we have kept from others. We must not waste what we have, even if we earned it lawfully and according to God's will, on selfish living. Too many needs need to be met for us to be a wasteful people.

Luxury has a way of ruining character. It is a way to pamper yourself. You can do a lot of good if you match character with wealth, but if you match self-indulgence with wealth, you will sin. The rich men James wrote to would have felt right at home with the people Jesus talked about in Luke 16:19–31.