The Book of James Week Five Lesson Two

“I’d Rather Have Jesus”

“Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags.Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment.” James 5:1-3

When I was growing up, there was a lady in town, Mrs. Ellenburg, who was 100 years old. She attended my church and had two daughters in their seventies and eighties who took care of her. My friends and I would ride out bikes to their houses just to visit ~ always unannounced. Mrs. Ellenburg lived with her oldest daughter, Mae in an ancient Victorian house that was as old as Mrs. Ellenburg herself. We’d visit, eat cookies and drink lemonade. It was always fun. 

When I was 10 or 11 Mrs. Ellenburg died. The preacher talked about her favorite hymn and it really made an impression on me. We sang together the words that truly reflected her life and the things she held dear. Her treasures weren’t of this world and it showed in the way she and her daughters took time for a few little girls. To this day I enjoy the elderly. I learn so much from them. This experience with her, for me, is a treasure God given to me that I store up in heaven. One day we’ll sing this song together again, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” Now that’s a real treasure.

Here are the words:

       “I’d Rather Have Jesus”

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I’d rather be His than have riches untold;

I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land;

I’d rather be led by His nail-scarred hands.

Chorus:

Than to be the king of a vast domain,

Or be held by sin’s dread sway.

I’d rather have Jesus, than anything this world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;

I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame.

I’d rather to true to His Holy Name.

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;

He’s sweeter than honey from out of the comb.

He’s all that my hungering spirit needs.

I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead.

Our treasure should be like Mrs. Ellenburg’s. It should be a treasure that will last for eternity. True treasure are the gifts that Jesus gives His own.

Read James 5:1-3. What does James warn the reader about?

What happened to their wealth?

What about their clothes?

What happens to their silver and gold?

What testifies against the rich? Why?

James has spoken about the rich early on in his letter. He focuses on the people who love their wealth more than God and other people. It is the most important thing to them. They spend their time and energy in making more and ignore the needs of those who are hurting. God is way down on their list, if at all. 

Read Luke 6:20-26. Read these verses and not the difference between the blessing of the poor and the woes of the rich. 

                   Blessings                                                                       Woes

James is saying that placing the god of desire of earthly things, as your main concern, will lead you to destruction. Even though James has already spoken about the sins and trappings of wealth, he deems it so important, he repeats it.

In the Middle East, during the time when Jesus and James were on earth, there were three sources of income. They were:

1. Corn and grain (Income of Wealth)
2. Clothing (The Appearance of Wealth)
3. Silver and gold (The Hoarding of Wealth)

Let’s look at each source of income:

Corn and Grain (Income of wealth)

Being a farmer was a common occupation.  People must work to provide for their needs and there is nothing wrong with that. However, when the focus becomes how much one works to make it, it becomes a sin ~ a god ~ an idol. What we worked for on this earth will rot and decay. Instead, we should seek the eternal.

Read Deuteronomy 8:17-18. What do people sometimes say about their wealth? 

What should we remember?

What does the ability to have an income confirm? In other words, what does the ability to work for a living, a gift given to us by God, confirm between God and mankind?

God wants us to remember He gives the ability to make a living. He may choose to give us the ability to make great wealth or just enough to get by. Whichever way, He asks only that we give Him the credit and thank Him for it. Christ promises us that God provides for His children.

Clothing (The Appearance of Wealth)

Clothing was a status symbol and was even used as a form of currency in the Old and New Testament times. They didn’t have closets full of clothes like we do. So, to own a nice tunic or sandals was a sign of wealth. Even the color made a difference. Purple was very expense the way it made it then. They would crush up a certain kind of shell that came from the bottom of the sea, to get the purple dye. Purple indicated wealth because they were the only ones who could afford it.

Clothing today shows much the same kind of status. We go by label and trend. It doesn’t matter whether we have money or not, clothing matters to a lot of people. How many of us (especially women) ask this questions, “What am I going to wear.” We stand in front of our closets full of clothes and complain that we have nothing to wear.

Read Matthew 6:29-29. What does Jesus tell us not to worry about?

What does Jesus ask us to look at?

How does He describe them?

What happens to them?

What can we learn from this?

God clothes the flowers with beauty more splendid than a King’s garments. Yet these flowers fade and perish quickly. James teaches that our lives on this earth will fade and perish as well. God who loves us more than the lilies, will provide what we need on this earth. The Bible teaches us the clothing we wear will be eaten by moths. If we belong to Jesus, He has robes of righteousness ready and waiting for us in eternity that will never wear out.

Silver and Gold (The Hoarding of Wealth)

There’s nothing wrong with saving money. It’s when we horde and worship wealth that it becomes sin. Silver and gold do not rust, James is saying that the God who created silver and gold will eventually cause it to decay. The desire we have for these things, is like the corrosion of rust in our spirits. This desire will eat away at us until we are consumed by it. That is why Jesus tells us to store up our eternal treasures in heaven.

Read Proverbs 23:4-5. Write this passage in your own words:

Whoa! The writer of this Proverb (King Solomon the wealthiest king ever known), warns us not to place all our focus and desire on silver and gold (wealth). Our focus must be on God’s wealth and worth. His promises ,and His faithfulness in them carrying out, is the treasure we can depend on. It lasts for an eternity.

Read Matthew 6:33. What should we seek first?

What will we receive?

If we seek His Kingdom,He will provide for us the promise of eternal riches in Heaven even while we walk on this earth. We can begin to enjoy the promise of eternity now. God wants to pour out His blessings on us as we walk in obedience to Him.

“The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.” Revelation 21:21

What we value on this earth is used to walk on in heaven. Jesus, is the only Value. He alone meets the standard of true and lasting wealth. Let us now focus on Him, our eternal treasure. Salvation is given to us by His nail-scarred hands. “I’d rather have Jesus...” How about you?