James 5:1-6

James 5:1-6

This most striking and powerful passage is a warning of the doom to come in God's judgment. Worldliness, the desire for more and pride, the reordering of the universe with themselves above others has been for the purpose of indulging the flesh. v. 5. This passage offers no call to repentance, no hope of mercy; it is too late for that. This passage is purely a warning of coming doom, judgment, and justice. This passage is also a reference to the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans. The ruling class and the high priestly family have killed the Righteous One. They have maintained their stronghold on the city and the temple. Their wealth was unmatched and secured by ruthless oppression. The temple had become the hideout for the criminal element. "Den of Thieves" in the Gospel is a poor translation. The word depicts someone much worse than a simple stealth thief. These were terrorists. The Temple was the headquarters for a terrorist organization. Jesus’ cleansing of the temple was not a call to reform but an acted-out parable about its destruction.

Driven blind by their desire to experience luxury and wanton pleasure, they had fattened their hearts in the moments before their ruin. Wealth is not itself evil; in fact, it is a gift and ministry from God. What we do with our wealth is what determines our right or wrong standing in this judgment. Given the choice between their wealth and the Messiah, the religious elite chose their wealth. The punishment for that choice was to come from a Roman's sword. Here is a warning to which we must give our full attention: the subtle creep from necessity to luxury, the danger of subsistence turning into needless excess. When life becomes about experience, sensation, taste, or feelings, and our resources have turned in that direction as well, then we live for the flesh. Ironically, God specifically called for his people to feast. There is a difference between when we enjoy strictly for our own pleasure and when we enjoy God's goodness and in praise to Him. The case of the latter is our hearts become generous. In the case of the former, the heart that is luxurious and wanton tends to be forgetful and then ungrateful.

“Lord, help me put my self satisfying desires  to death. AMEN”