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Our Riches are Rusting Away
Your riches have rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten.
Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence
against you, and it will eat your flesh like fire. You have
laid up treasure for the last days. James 5:2-3
Our
Riches are Rusting Away
Poverty | Oppression
| Refugees | United
Methodist Action | Top of
Page
Scandal
Pages
Rusting Riches: Oppression | Now
and Later: Hope | Faith and Works: Praxis
Related
Links
Word Studies: Poor
| Rich | Blessing
Order Tamez' Book: The
Scandalous Message of James
James' message to the rich is clear and direct-our riches are
rusting and will be used as evidence against us in the last days
(James 5:3). In the midst of our busy life we wither away (James
1:11). Is there no hope? Clearly James offers hope and reassurance
to the poor, but the message to the rich is to weep and to wail
(James 5:1). Is it a sin to simply be rich? Moo insists that James
is not condemning all who are rich, only those who use their wealth
sinfully (Moo210).
But Tamez questions this reading, arguing that being poor and
being oppressed are related. Being rich, and striving to become
rich, are individual actions, actions that fail to account for
the wretchedness other lives. When we accumulate wealth or live
luxuriously, we do this at the expense of those who are poor (T24).
Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith
and to heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who
love him? James 2:5
Similar to the message of the beatitudes (See Matt 5:3 and Luke
6:20), the letter of James is concerned with the rich and the
poor. James emphasizes Christianity's preferential option for
those who are poor. The word poor is used
in New Testament contexts for those without economic wealth. (See
the New Testament Word
Study on Poor.) It is also used for those without power. All
who are socially vulnerable, in religion, economics, politics,
and in the household, would be understood as lacking honor, and
therefore, poor (M48).
It is the oppression of those in control of religion, economics,
politics and the household that oppress others and cause poverty.
That is, it is the rich who oppress the poor. (See the New Testament
Word Study on
Rich.)
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive
themselves (James 1:22).
Our Riches are Rusting Away
Poverty | Oppression
| Refugees | United
Methodist Action | Top of
Page
Scandal
Pages
Rusting Riches: Oppression | Now
and Later: Hope | Faith and Works: Praxis
Related
Links
Word Studies: Poor
| Rich | Blessing
Order Tamez' Book: The
Scandalous Message of James
Poverty
Can we who have things, we who have power, we who have privilege,
be doers of the word? James calls us to act on our faith, to not
accept the world the way it is, but to help to reverse the order
of privilege. The rich are called to boast in being brought low
(James 1:9). We can do that  by
knowing about, and working to change the circumstances of poverty
in today's world. The World
Bank has a number of resources for this. Learn about measuring
poverty in the United States,
and get information on Homelessness
and Poverty. United for a
Fair Economy is a great resource for understanding how creating
wealth and accumulating wealth contributes to poverty.
Oppression
The rich need to understand how oppression and power are related.
We need to struggle to understand the privilege we have in the
world. The Southern Poverty
Law Center is a leader in race and power issues. The Methodist
Church has spoken out on
racism and has a study
guide available. Churches
Uniting in Christ, an ecumenical group in the United States,
has named fighting racism as one of its primary goals.
Refugees
James opens with a greeting to the dispersion,
a term typically used by  Jews
to mean those living away from home. James seems to connect the
concept of diaspora with poverty and oppression. For information
on those forced to live away from home learn more about the UN
High Commission for Refugees and the US
Committee for Refugees.
United
Methodist Action
The United Methodist Church is working to fight oppression in
today's world. Learn more about Restorative
Justice, Global
Health, or study the issues in Urban
Ministry. United Methodist Women have a number of opportunities
for taking action
in the world. See what women are doing in the mission
field . Or learn about Mexico,
Vietnam, Cambodia
and Laos, or the Children
of Africa. Or check out the General
Board of Global Ministries.
Our
Riches are Rusting Away
Poverty | Oppression
| Refugees | United
Methodist Action | Top of
Page
Scandal
Pages
Rusting Riches: Oppression | Now
and Later: Hope | Faith and Works: Praxis
Related
Links
Word Studies: Poor
| Rich | Blessing
Order Tamez' Book: The
Scandalous Message of James
Resources (Link
to full Bibliography
for web site)
Bruce J. Malina, Social Science Commentary on the Synoptic
Gospels. (Minneapolis: Fortress Press 1992).
Douglas J. Moo, The Letter of James in The Pillar
New Testament Commentary, DA Carson, general editor. (Grand
Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2000).
Elsa Tamez, The Scandalous Message of James: Faith Without
Works Is Dead. John Eagleson, translator. With Study Guide
by Pamela Sparr. (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 2002).
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