James 5:5

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

The Message: You've looted the earth and lived it up. But all you'll have to show for it is a fatter than usual corpse.

This is a continuation of the warnings to the rich and James certainly does not mince his words.  Imagine the reaction in the congregation after being told that all they will have to show for their time and effort on earth is a fatter than usual corpse!

Of course, those words would not have applied to many, as there would have been those working hard to follow the teachings of Jesus, yet there would be many for whom it would be all too relevant.  Take a look around you the next time you are in church and see the people there.  Only God knows the heart of each one of us, only He knows how we spend our time, our money, whether what we do behind closed doors at home lives up to what we say when we are at church.  There will be some in the congregation to whom these words of James would apply.  They may even apply to you, to me. 

I know there are times when I just want to indulge myself and to let everyone else  fend for themselves.  Why shouldn't I spend my money on myself?  After all, I work hard for what I earn, I deserve a treat now and then.  But it is when money becomes the be all and end all, when making money becomes a priority, no matter how it is made or who is hurt in the process and when I start to put something other than God first in my life that I need to watch out.  I don't want to be one of the fat cats that James is talking about, I want to be one who lives life as Jesus would have me live it, storing up treasures in heaven, not here on earth.

After all, isn't that what Jesus tells us?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19 (NIV)

We are all going to die sooner or later and no matter how much or how little we have in the bank, we will not be able to take any of it with us when we die.   I know some use this as an excuse to make life one long party, with wine, women and song.  Others want as comfortable existence as possible so are looking for the best house, car, clothes and so on that money can buy.  Still others are always looking to do one better than their neighbour, to get the latest fashions first, be the first to get a new car, have the most well behaved children, have the perfect life and be the envy of all around them.  In order to do this, they walk all over others, never giving a thought to God and what He may think of it all.

Jesus goes on to say "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" (Matthew 6:24).  What is it that governs our heart?   Are we really seeking to serve God in all that we do, not just on Sundays when in church, or are we seeking to serve ourselves, to get as much out of life as possible, no matter what the cost or who we trample on to get it?  What will we have to show for it when our lives are at an end?  Just a fatter than usual corpse or treasure in heaven?