#20
James 5:1-6
¶ Come now, you rich,
weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire.
It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!
Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
( those who work for you, who you have made agreement with to pay a set fee. )
You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.
{{ Pretty much says what it means, not much here to miss understand.
The rich live in luxury and fulfilling their pleasures and save (storing away wealth) for their future and at the same time depriving those who work for them by withholding wages they have previously agreed to pay, condemning the workers to do with out, and those you take advantage of the most are the righteous for they will continue to work without resisting you.
For the righteous will work as if they are working directly for the Lord. }}
Then in James 5: 7-12
the righteous are told:
James 5:7-12
¶ Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.
The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains.
You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.
As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
We count those blessed who endured.
You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath;
but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.
{{ Being ripped off by the rich is going to happen but as believers in and followers of our Lord Christ Jesus we must lean on Him for all our needs and not get caught up in the things and ways of the world.
Our riches are to be stored in heaven,
not in this world.
For as we have learned where your treasure is,
there also will your heart be.
You can not serve two masters,
so chose to serve the Lord and He will provide all your needs. }}
Is your faith in GOD or in man??????