Pastor Tricia's Ramblings

Scripture Reading: James 5:1–6

“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.”

The Danger Isn’t Money—It’s the Love of It

James doesn’t pull any punches in these verses. His words are strong, almost shocking: weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. He’s not saying it’s wrong to have money—Scripture never condemns simply having wealth. The Bible contains stories of godly people who were wealthy, like Abraham, Job, Lydia, and Joseph of Arimathea. The problem isn’t wealth—it’s the love of wealth.

1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.” Notice the wording—it’s not money itself, but the love of it. When we trust money more than God, when our security is in a bank account instead of His promises, when we keep chasing more just to feel satisfied—that’s when money becomes a spiritual trap.

And here’s the thing: greed doesn’t only live in the bank vault of the ultra-rich. It can show up in any heart, at any income level. It’s a matter of where our trust is placed.

When Good Things Become Idols

James was specifically addressing wealthy landowners who were oppressing the poor—people who were keeping back wages, living in luxury while others suffered. But the deeper issue here is the heart posture. A wrong heart toward money will corrode our souls.

That corrosion can happen with anything we hold too tightly.

It’s not just money that can become an idol. Relationships, jobs, ministry roles, hobbies, health, success, even our children—good things—can become ultimate things in our hearts. When something takes God’s rightful place in our lives, it’s no longer just a blessing; it’s become an idol.

I’ve had to check my own heart in this area. There have been seasons when I clung so tightly to a certain goal or plan that I began to feel anxious at the thought of losing it. That’s when the Holy Spirit gently convicted me: “You’re holding this tighter than you’re holding Me.”

What God Really Wants From Us

Micah 6:8 gives us a clear, beautiful summary of what God desires from His people:

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Let’s break that down:

• Act justly — Do what is right, especially in how we treat others. This means paying fair wages, keeping our word, honoring commitments, and making sure our actions don’t harm others for our own gain.
• Love mercy — Don’t just show mercy—love it. Be eager to forgive, to extend grace, to help those who can’t repay you.
• Walk humbly with your God — Live with a daily awareness that you depend on Him, not on yourself or your resources.

In a world that thrives on greed, self-promotion, and getting ahead, these three commands stand out like bright lights in the darkness. Acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly aren’t just “nice ideas”—they are kingdom values.

Identifying Unhealthy Attachments

Sometimes we don’t even realize where greed has taken root in our lives. That’s why it’s essential to regularly pray, “Holy Spirit, show me any unhealthy attachment in my life—whether to money, comfort, success, or anything else.”

Here are a few heart-check questions:

• Do I feel anxious or fearful at the thought of losing something I have?
• Do I withhold generosity because I want to protect my own comfort?
• Do I measure my worth—or someone else’s—by possessions or status?
• Do I compromise my integrity to gain something I want?

These aren’t comfortable questions, but they’re necessary. Greed hides well, and the enemy loves to disguise it as “just being responsible” or “planning ahead.”

The Antidote to Greed: Generosity

If you want to loosen greed’s grip, start practicing generosity. I don’t just mean writing a check (although that can be part of it)—I mean living with open hands.

• Share your resources without expecting anything in return.
• Be intentional about blessing someone anonymously.
• Use your time, talents, and possessions to meet needs.
• Be quick to give thanks to God for what you have instead of longing for what you don’t.

Generosity shifts the focus from me to we. It reminds us that what we have is not ours to cling to—it’s God’s to use for His purposes.

Living With Integrity

James calls out the injustice of withholding wages from workers, reminding us that God hears the cries of the oppressed. Our culture often says, “If it benefits me, it’s fine.” God’s Word says the opposite: if it harms someone else or robs them of what they deserve, it’s sin.

Integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching—especially in financial matters. It means being honest in business, transparent in our dealings, and faithful to our commitments.

From Outrage to Action

It’s easy to look at the injustice in the world and shake our heads in frustration. But James doesn’t tell us to sit around and wait for the world to fix itself—he calls us to live differently.

We can’t control every injustice out there, but we can control how we respond to the ones we see. Jesus didn’t walk past hurting people and say, “I wish someone would help them.” He was the help. He met needs. He healed. He fed. He restored.

When we see a need, we can step in. We can be the hands and feet of Jesus—whether that’s buying groceries for a struggling family, helping a single parent fix their car, or simply showing up to listen to someone who’s been ignored.

A Better Investment

James paints a vivid picture of riches rotting, clothes being eaten by moths, gold and silver corroding. That’s the end result of building our lives on temporary treasures—they won’t last.

Jesus offers a better investment strategy in Matthew 6:19–21:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

He’s not against saving or planning for the future—He’s against misplaced treasure. When our heart’s deepest investment is in eternity, we can hold everything else loosely.

Final Thought

James’ warning isn’t just for “rich people out there somewhere”—it’s for all of us. Greed isn’t measured by the size of your bank account; it’s measured by the grip something has on your heart.

The good news is, God can transform even the most self-centered heart into one that overflows with generosity. It starts with surrender—acknowledging that everything we have belongs to Him, and we are simply stewards.

So today, ask Him:

• “Lord, where am I holding on too tightly?”
• “Where can I act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly?”
• “How can I be Your hands and feet to someone today?”

Because at the end of the day, the only wealth that matters is the treasure we store up in heaven.

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Reflection Questions:

1. Is there an area of your life where you’ve been trusting in resources more than in God?
2. What’s one step of generosity you can take this week?
3. How can you personally respond to an injustice you’ve seen recently?