Thoughts on James 5:1-6

5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. ² Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! ⁴ Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. ⁵ You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. ⁶ You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.

As a minister I have often heard the argument for tithing is not mentioned in the New Testament. This same person also said I give God what I can when I can.  I know he would not want me to go without all the things that make me happy.  Then I have heard many say I already give to take care of those that are in need through the taxes I pay.  I have even work for a company that failed to pay me  my commission of 3% on a sizable (1.5 million dollars) contract.  I was bummed at the time, but continued to work for that company. Then one day they told me they no longer needed my services because of mismanagement they were going out of business. 

There are those who seek to get ahead in life financially off the backs of honest hard working people. Then there are those that scam the system refusing to work. Last there are those who just claim entitlement rights and refuse to start at the bottom and work their way up the ladder of success. James is speaking to all those that can pay a proper wage for a job, give to those in need, and most important tithe to the church.  If these words are hurting your pride then realize that James is speaking to you just as he has spoken to me. 

Maybe your priorities in life are not in line with God's priorities for holy stewardship.   Rather than condemn yourself in this life by living for material wealth, money, and more stuff you could consider a different approach.  Give out of your wealth knowing that as God has blessed you, you can now bless others.  Now you are a instrument of blessing being used by God as a means of grace.

Lord, I pray that those who are in your Church give back that which you have giving to them as an offering to be used to share the message of love.  May the outpouring of grace be poured out on those that practice the principle of good stewardship.  Amen...