Now Listen, You Rich People! Series

Holyfield bought a $20 million house with over 54,000 square feet and 109 rooms. The house has 11 bedrooms, 17 bathrooms, a movie theater, a bowling alley and an Olympic-size swimming pool. Imagine how much it must cost to cut the grass on all 235 acres! You could buy a Range Rover with the electric bill payment alone.

And Evander Holyfield is just one example of high living or luxurious and self-indulgent living! Many wicked rich people live in the lap of luxury and think nothing of the poor and needy around them. This is what James is talking about.

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.

We all need to be reminded that we also are rich and there are needy people around us! This is why we give to such places as missions and the Salvation Army, etc.

I Timothy 6:17-19 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

CONCLUSION----------------

1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. This could well be, if they are wicked rich people. Weeping and wailing doesn’t sound very inviting, does it? What do you think it stands for?

Ephesians 5:5 “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

ILL.- In March 2009, Bernie Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 federal felonies and admitted to turning his wealth management business into a massive Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors of billions of dollars. On June 29, 2009, he was sentenced to 150 years in prison, the maximum allowed.

Do you think Mr. Madoff is having a good time now in his luxurious prison? No, and some day things may get worse unless he repents and turns to Christ.

Such is the end of the wicked rich.

Steve Shepherd, Jonesboro Christian Church, AR

jonesborochristianchurch@suddenlink.net