What to Do With Rich Oppressors

James had a reputation for taking God seriously. According to early church tradition, he was a lifelong Nazirite, dedicated to prayer, repentance, and seeking the Lord. This helps explain why his letter is so direct. James isn’t just offering suggestions; he’s calling us to live like him and grow closer to God through faith in action.

That urgency comes through in his warning to the rich (James 5:1-6). At first glance, it sounds like James is condemning wealth itself. However, he’s actually warning us about everyday selfishness.

James wrote during a time of famine. Landowners had food and resources that could help others survive, but many chose to hold onto them instead. Their wealth became more important than their neighbours. James warns that such possessions are temporary anyway. Wealth fades, kingdoms fall, and everything we build on Earth eventually passes away. Putting our trust in possessions is both foolish and dangerous.

But this passage applies to far more people than just the wealthy. Whenever we place ourselves at the centre of life instead of God, we become the rich oppressors James describes. We all have resources, abilities, time, opportunities, and blessings that God has entrusted to us. When we hoard them out of fear or use them only for ourselves, we are refusing to participate in what God is doing.

The good news is that James’s harsh words are a call to repentance, not condemnation. God loves us and wants better for us. So when you know you should give, serve, encourage, help, or share—do it. As James has already taught us, failing to do the good we know we ought to do is sin (James 4:17). Put God first, trust Him to provide, and use what He has given you to bless others.

Watch the full sermon here.