Money Hoarding

 

James 5

1

Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.

2

Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.

3

Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

4

Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.

5

You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

6

You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

 

When I went on my missions trip to Mexico and saw how little the Mexican’s had, it made me realize how much I had.  The extreme poverty in Mexico allowed me to appreciate the possessions I owned.  When I saw children naked, because they had no money to buy clothes, it made me appreciate my jeans with the huge hole in the knee.  When I saw how skinny the Mexicans were, because they were starving and had no money for food, it made me appreciate the asparagus I did not enjoy eating. 

 

Since there is always going to be someone worse-off than you, do not complain.  Do not complain when you break your leg because there is always that other person in the wheelchair without any legs at all.  Do not complain when you are sick because there is always that other person in the hospital bed dying.

 

I used to be an extremely selfish person.  I would hoard everything I owned, especially money.  Money meant everything to me!  It meant status, recognition, power, luxurious living, impulsive spending, unlimited fun, etc.  I used to think the more money I had, the happier I would be. 

 

Today, I find money does not buy happiness.  It is apparent to me only true happiness comes from my relationship with Christ.  I ask myself this question: “What’s money compared to eternity in Heaven?”

 

Matthew 6

19

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

23

But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

 

This is my challenge for you: decide what or who you are living for.  Are you living for God?  Or are you living for money?  Are you living for compromise?  Or are you living for wholehearted commitment?  Are you living for others?  Or are you living for self?  What or who are you living for?