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"The cries of the reapers..."

Text: James 5:4

ADDRESSING THE CORRUPT RICH

Investigating the problem in greater depth, James wrote even more strenuously against the rich!

“Indeed, the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields,
which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and
the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury;
you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.”
James 5:4-6

1. The wicked practices of the corrupt rich highlighted

a) The wages of the labourers they hired were kept back by fraud.

b) The reapers (those who worked for the rich owners) cried out to God in their despair.

c) They were guilty of abusing the law.

i) They condemn those who had sought legal means to recover their wages.

ii) They would even resort to murdering of the just.

iii) No one was powerful enough to resist the corrupt rich.

2. The lifestyle of the rich

a) They lived in pleasure.

b) They lived in luxury when their workers barely had enough to survive on.

3. “The Lord of Sabaoth”

a) Another way of translating this phrase is “The Lord of Hosts”.

b) This was one of the titles of God in the Old Testament.

c) This phrase was used to describe God as the One who leads a mighty army of angels.

d) “The Lord of Hosts” describes God in His majesty and power.

4. Fear of the Lord of Hosts

a) He is to be held in great reverence.

b) He is to be held in fear.

c) He will come and judge the corrupt rich.

d) He will uphold justice for the down-trodden.

e) He will punish the corrupt-rich.