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
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
(Moo 210). 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 (Tamez
24).
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 (Malina
48). 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).
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 (http://www.worldbank.org/poverty/)
has a number of resources for this. Learn about measuring poverty
in the United States (http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/irp/), and get information
on Homelessness and Poverty (http://www.nlchp.org/). United for
a Fair Economy (http://www.ufenet.org/) 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 (http://www.splcenter.org/) is a
leader in race and power issues. The Methodist Church has spoken
out on racism (http://gbgm-umc.org/umw/anti-hate/racism.html) and
has a study guide (http://www.umc-gbcs.org/racismbk.htm) available.
Churches Uniting in Christ (http://www.eden.edu/cuic/racism/cuicandracism.htm),
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 (http://www.unhcr.org/) and
the US Committee for Refugees (http://www.refugees.org/).
Methodist Action
The United Methodist Church is working to fight oppression in today's
world. Learn more about Restorative Justice (http://gbgm-umc.org/missionstudies/restorativejustice/),
Global Health (http://gbgm-umc.org/missionstudies/globalhealth/),
or study the issues in Urban Ministry (http://gbgm-umc.org/missionstudies/urban/).
United Methodist Women have a number of opportunities for taking
action in the world. (http://gbgm-umc.org/womens-division/index2.html#voices)
See what women are doing in the mission (http://gbgm-umc.org/WOMENS-DIVISION/index2.html#mission)
field . Or learn about Mexico (http://gbgm-umc.org/missionstudies/mexico/),
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos
(http://gbgm-umc.org/missionstudies/vcl/), or the Children of Africa
(http://gbgm-umc.org/missionstudies/africa/). Or check out the General
Board of Global Ministries (http://gbgm-umc.org/home_page/index.cfm).
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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