James Expounds on Faith Volume 50

 Warning to the Rich Part 3

James 5:5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. KJV

The Apostle James continues his discourse of the unsaved rich men 🚹 and women 🚺 who have used others for their gain of filthy lucre with these sobering words, "Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter." (James 5:5) (KJV). Note: "The writer's of the New Testament wrote often to warn God's people to be not like those of the world 🗺 who did such things as exploit other human beings made in the image of God to enrich themselves, for example here is what the Apostle Peter wrote to those men who would become Pastors or Shepards of God's flock, 'The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.' (1 Peter 5:1-4) (KJV)." The little English phrase in James 5:5 'Ye have lived in pleasure' is translated by the Greek word truphaō (used this one time only in the entire New Testament) meaning to indulge in luxury: - live in pleasure. The little English phrase 'been wanton' is translated by the Greek word spatalaō (used only one other time in the entire New Testament) meaning to be voluptuous, that is, displaying luxury and furnishing gratification to the senses: - live in pleasure, be wanton. The little English phrase 'ye have nourished' is translated by the Greek word trephō meaning (as used here) to cherish; be fond of; be attached to; hold dear; treasure. The little English word 'hearts' is translated by the Greek word kardia meaning (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind). The little English phrase 'of slaughter' is translated by the Greek word sphagē (used only a couple of other times in the entire New Testament) meaning (as used here) not the butchery of animals for food, but instead [figuratively] of men's destruction or slaughter for others personal enrichment. In other words, these people the Apostle James speaks to and speaks of are not at all interested in other people being able to provide for themselves and their families, for they are only concerned with using anyone to enhance the gratification of their greedy senses to indulge themselves here in the facade, false, and fake heaven they construct and build for themselves here on the earth 🌎 by using people as slaves to manufacture their goods or services by cheap labor so that their wealth will grow and grow and grow. Remember what the Apostle Paul wrote to Brother Timothy on this matter, "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:9-10) (KJV). This also speaks to the phony, pretending, pirates who are the purveyors of the false gospel of prosperity to unsuspecting souls (many of whom are seeking to worship the One True God Jesus Christ). They are the ones who are being prospered by swindling or running a con game for the receiving of filthy lucre/money 💵 to themselves, who by the way are the only ones living the prosperity gospel because they have conned many souls into sending them money 💵 expecting God to multiply ✖ it many times over. These men 🚹 and women 🚺 the Apostle James speaks of and speaks to have their conscience's seared as with a hot iron, as the Apostle Paul declares to Brother Timothy with these words, "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." (1 Timothy 4:1-2) (KJV). The reason for their departure then we see is their listening 👂 to demons instead of God the Holy Spirit in the Word of God. The devil 😈 has but one plan only and that is to get people to disbelieve the Word of God, for that is what he did at the very beginning with Eve (Genesis 3:1-7) and this is what he continues to do from then until now.

Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of James 5:5, "The second feature in the iniquity of the rich is the voluptuous and prodigal life which they lead themselves, at the very time that they inflict such hardships upon the poor. 'Ye lived delicately on the earth, and took your pleasure; ye nourished your hearts in a day of slaughter.' The aorists should perhaps be translated as aorists throughout these verses: 'Ye laid up your treasure…ye lived delicately,' etc. rather than, 'Ye have laid up, ye have lived,' etc. The point of view is that of the Day of Judgment, when these wealthy sinners are confronted by the enormities which they committed during their lives. But it is a case in which it is quite permissible to render the Greek aorist by the English perfect. 'On the earth' may either mean 'during your lifetime,' or may be in contrast to 'entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.' All the while that the cry against their iniquity was ascending to heaven, as an accumulating charge that would at last overwhelm them, they were living in luxury on earth, thinking nothing of the wrath to come. It was the converse of the old Epicurean doctrine, so graphically described by the late Laureate in 'The Lotus-eaters.' There it is the gods who 'lie beside their nectar' in ceaseless enjoyment, 'careless of mankind,' who send up useless lamentations, which provoke no more than a smile among the neglectful deities. Here it is the men who revel in boundless luxury, careless of the Righteous God, whose vengeance they provoke by persistent neglect of His commands." Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 5:5, "Another sin here mentioned is sensuality and voluptuousness. You have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, James 5:5. God does not forbid us to use pleasure; but to live in them as if we lived for nothing else is a very provoking sin; and to do this on the earth, where we are but strangers and pilgrims, where we are but to continue for a while, and where we ought to be preparing for eternity - this, this is a grievous aggravation of the sin of voluptuousness. Luxury makes people wanton, as in Hosea 13:6, According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me. Wantonness and luxury are commonly the effects of great plenty and abundance; it is hard for people to have great plenty and abundance; it is hard for people to have great estates, and not too much indulge themselves in carnal, sensual pleasures: 'You have nourished your hearts as in a day of slaughter: you live as if it were every day a day of sacrifices, a festival; and hereby your hearts are fattened and nourished to stupidity, dulness, pride, and an insensibility to the wants and afflictions of others.' Some may say, 'What harm is there in good cheer, provided people do not spend above what they have?' What! Is it no harm for people to make gods of their bellies, and to give all to these, instead of abounding in acts of charity and piety? Is it no harm for people to unfit themselves for minding the concerns of their souls, by indulging the appetites of their bodies? Surely that which brought flames upon Sodom, and would bring these miseries for which rich men are here called to weep and howl, must be a heinous evil! Pride, and idleness, and fullness of bread, mean the same thing with living in pleasure, and being wanton, and nourishing the heart as in a day of slaughter."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…