We should always be reminded that salvation is open to everyone, Yes, even Satan's own "children of disobedience" are welcome into the fold.

James, the brother of Jesus Christ, has specifically addressed his wonderful letter to those of us in this final generation who are of the dispersed tribes of Israel.

However, in doing so he has neither left out nor forgotten the "neighbor", those who are grafted into the tribes through the adoption by our Lord, nor the "filthy" rich, even those whose wealth has come through fraudulent and corrupt means.

We should always be reminded that salvation is open to everyone, which is anyone who will forsake self and repent and turn to Jesus Christ for forgiveness of their sins and accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Yes, even Satan's own "children of disobedience" are welcome into the fold.

How rewarding it is to be the instrument in His hand used to bring one of those lost souls to Him.

"Come on", rich men, "hear with understanding the Word of God".

Of course it is pretty unlikely that unless they repent they will even read much less study this Book of James.

Nevertheless these words are written here even for the kenite should he decide to turn from his evil ways and accept Jesus Christ as his savior.

Mr. Rich Man, your ill-gotten riches are going to be destroyed and you along with them if you don't change your ways.

That's right, all your wealth is going to perish and your moth-eaten "garments" are going to leave your wretched soul standing spiritually naked before the Judge.

Garments, i.e. raiment, are symbolic of righteous acts (see Rev. 16:15, Rev. 19:8).

Remember what we learned in our previous studies?

One cannot be "obsessed" with earthly riches and serve God too, whether you are a kenite or not.

It is written, "You cannot serve God and mammon (Luke 16:13)".

Unfortunately, it seems there must be tragedy and hardship among God's children before they turn to Him.

Then their prayers are, "Oh God, help me now!"

But as the Song of Moses in Deut. 32 says when "Jeshurun waxes fat", i.e. when we are amidst good times and "comfy comfy" in a robust economy, then we forget God in our plans.

You know the saying, "It's the economy, stupid!"

How fitting Christ's comments are to the last church among the seven churches He addresses in Revelation, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" (Rev. 3:17).

Now back to the "filthy rich", not those who are wealthy through the blessings of God, but those whose wealth has been obtained by fraudulent and corrupt means.

You have heaped up piles of material wealth instead of laying up spiritual treasures in heaven.

Don't you know that our Father is not a respecter of persons and your judgment, just like everyone else's, shall be according to your deeds?

Of course there is forgiveness and grace, when there is repentance, which is a deed indeed.

So the choice is yours!

Lay up treasure on earth and accumulate material wealth for your retirement or lay up for yourself spiritual treasures in that eternal annuity which shall reward you forever.

Their works expose them!

The Lord of saboath, the Lord of hosts, i.e. the Lord who shall return with the armies of heaven to execute vengeance upon the wicked, hears the cries of His people!

Yes, He is coming at the 7th Trump and the "filthy" rich with calloused hearts who have foolishly heaped themselves coffers full of His wrath, will finally find out what it is like to get paid fairly for the work you do!

Ouch!

It will be by their choice!

The word translated "killed" is the Greek word "phoneuo" which means "premeditated murder".

Who was it who killed the just One, and who was it that shed the blood of the holy prophets "from Abel unto the blood of Zacharias"?

(Luke 11:50-51) It was the kenites, not our brother Judah from among the twelve tribes.

The cry of those saints victimized by the murderous wicked who "cast their evil devices" certainly does enter into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth (vs. 4), the Lord of hosts!

Remember, there are more trials and tribulations coming and it could be easy at times for some to look with envy upon those who seem to be blessed with great wealth while we perhaps struggle.

James says it best as he now speaks to the brethren, even to the wise among them.

Rev. 14:15 "And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

Be patient therefore, brethren, and holdfast with the understanding that the "rains" (see Deut. 32:2) must fall in their due seasons, the early rain to sprout the seeds and latter rain to ripen the grain for the great harvest.

Again, be patient and strengthen your hearts in knowing that the Lord is returning soon to execute judgment upon the earth.

Do not be envious nor "fret yourself" over the wicked or their temporary earthly riches.

If you are you are a deeper student of God's Word you may realize by now that James has just given us an expanded version of the acrostic contained in the 37th Psalm concerning our patience and understanding of the ultimate fate of the wicked whose gods are gold and silver.

When taken together these three verses forming the acrostic graphically explain what happens to the incorrigibly wicked.

They shall perish like the fat dripping from a lamb on a spit onto the hot coals below.

Poof, they are vaporized, gone forever, just like those consumed in the lake of fire!

Then, as if to solidify the overall theme of his book, James will give us a wonderful parting gift of comfort in the last verse by showing us a special reward that comes from being a "doer".

You will want to read this!

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

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