Come Now, You Rich!

Come Now, You Rich!

We are in the last days and judgment over the rich has already begun. “You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” James 5:3 [Emphasis added]. It is dangerous to gather treasure in these troubled times. May God save His people from covetousness. It is certainly not difficult to gather treasure in these days, but it will not be a blessing. You cannot heap up riches without doing damage to the poor in some way. You will either underpay them or withhold their wages.

The ungodly world doesn’t even think to entreat God for their rights; but God, who is a righteous Father, hates injustice and punishes those who practice injustice. “Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” James 5:4 [Emphasis added].

Unjust wages cry out to God, just as the sighs and cries of the reapers reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Now the days of vengeance have come; the silver and gold are corroded. Your riches are corrupted and your garments are moth-eaten.

What have the rich done with the wages they withheld from their workers? They have lived in pleasure and luxury in this world; they have fattened their hearts as in the day of slaughter. “Come now, you rich,” James writes, “weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!”

In Russia and Germany, people are rising up in rebellion, and this is spreading to other countries. The axe lies at the root of the great men’s tall trees, and it is making deep cuts. God’s judgment has drawn near, and we can only watch in great amazement.

What should we do? Should we take sides with one group or another?

No!! “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.” Verse 7 [Emphasis added].

We need patience. Never interfere with God’s judgment. We can observe it and learn from it, but we must not participate on either side. If you are forced to take a stand, stand up for righteousness. Our hope is in the Lord. One government after another collapses; ministers come and go; kings and princes are crowned and dethroned. In the midst of this chaos we wait for the Lord to come and take control. We know and are convinced that eventually all other governments will fall. Only Jesus and His elect can rule righteously. Therefore, His kingdom is an eternal kingdom.