Douglas Jacoby Podcast

30—Forty Days with James: Rich Fools

Douglas continues his series on Forty Days with James, today looking at Rich Fools.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

James 5:1-6

Last time: In "Wannabe Rich Fools," James speaks of entrepreneurs who fail to take God into account. This time: of actual rich fools who fail to take God into account.
A prophetic woe!
Their corrupt wealth will "testify" against them. That is, their unjust actions demand a verdict.
The rich are hoarding grain, garments, gold.
Last Days = time from Pentecost on, the last phase of human history before the second coming of the Lord.
There was noalready in.
It was not a promising system for the little guy! He loses out. The innocent poor not only didn’t oppose the fat cats; they couldn’t.
Possible legal overtones: using the courts to their advantage. Who gets the better lawyer? Who’s better connected?
Murder, too.
Zealots
- Emulated Phinehas and Elijah
- Along with the Pharisees, the Zealots were the radicals.
- More on this in reflection 31 (next talk)
- And some Christians, directly or indirectly
Luxury = a standard that applies to most of us hearing this talk. Ours is unbelievably higher than that of the medieval kings and queens of Europe.
Rich people: Slaughter – the fat cats will be slaughtered!
Luke 16:19-31
James doesn’t automatically condemn all rich Christians (ch 1). But these rich persons stand condemned.

Next: "The Judge at the Door"