James 5:1-3

Earlier, James calls his readers to weep and mourn. Here he is addressing the rich and telling them to weep and howl for their coming miseries. They are rich and their wealth is in earthly things. James makes reference to their riches, their garments, their gold and their silver. These things are described as being rotted, moth-eaten and corroded. Earthly things will eventually perish, and it is these very things that the rich have much of. Nowadays, I find many people are striving to be rich. Some believe that being wealthy will bring happiness. However, the statistics show that lottery winners aren't any happier after winning. In fact, lottery winners are typically more miserable after striking it rich. Not only that, but climbing the corporate ladder and rising to success in the working world doesn't promise happiness. Doing such a thing means laying up treasure in the last days. However, this treasure is victim to all earthly possessions; they all eventually rot and perish. There's nothing good here about earthly wealth, so I must remember to not be enticed by its lure. The question is, "what's important?" I should hope that God is more important to me than these earthly things.