As I observe the lives of those around me, I wonder what kinds of masters each of us serves. Is it the master of politics or peak physique? Or perhaps we serve the master of food or fun. Maybe we serve ourselves, allowing our own intuition and ambition to have dominion over our lives. We can easily become subservient to the many “masters” of this world, allowing them to dictate our actions, motivations, and thoughts. As Christians, we need to be aware of what sits on our throne. In the context of James 5, the master of money is in control. Consider James 5:1-6: 

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. (ESV)

In this passage, James is quick to condemn the unfaithful rich for their corrupt stewardship and manipulation of the poor. The wrongdoings of the rich include an evil devotion to exploitative manipulation and living lustfully for pleasure. They live indulgently at the expense of the poor who find themselves wronged and oppressed. Clearly, when people view and use wealth in wayward ways, it can make them wicked.  

But how often do we view our riches as personal gain? Do we strive to live for immediate gratification in such a way as to become blind to the eternal promises of God? If we proclaim God’s name, we cannot simultaneously seek and serve our riches. Jesus warns us of this reality in the Sermon on the Mount: “No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money” (Matthew 6:24, ESV). It is a clear temptation for us to replace the riches we receive from God with earthly riches and rewards. Thus, it seems as though James has an important instruction for us as we observe wicked stewardship of the rich. 

What we do with our wealth reveals what we believe about Christ. Wealth is nothing when it is not used in love and in light of our neighbor. The golden rule extends to the control and making of money. We must ask ourselves: are we stewarding our resources for God or for gain? When we see money as our own, we fail to see the blessing that God has given us for the betterment of the kingdom. We also must understand that wealth in and of itself is not bad; rather, when we abuse and hoard our wealth, we allow our money to reign in our hearts. We must ask ourselves for what purpose we use our money. If that purpose is not consistent with God’s will or character, God might be prompting us to have a change of heart. 

What we do with our wealth can be a witness against us or a witness towards God. It is easy to neglect our heart posture towards money and use it in ways that may not please God. We must not let money be our master. Money is not meant to be an idol, but rather an avenue for blessing the kingdom of God. God has called us to be stewards, not slaves. Thus, we must learn to wield our wealth in a way that brings blessing. The gospel of John reminds us that others will recognize us by our love. The way we use our money says a lot about the way we love. Let us love through the way we wield our wealth. 

May we strive to use our riches to reflect the character of Christ as we seek and serve His people. If money is your master, I pray that today you will allow God to cleanse and correct your heart in love and truth.