Santa’s List – James 1: 10-11

But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.  For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

James’ letter is a lot like Santa’s List. Most of us have heard about Santa Clause, and how, like God, he knows if we have been “naughty” or “nice.” The modern legend of Santa goes back to a real-life believer in God, a man whom we know as Saint Nicholas.

Like St. Nick, James is concerned about how people behave toward each other and whether or not having material possessions is clouding their judgment. Why would this be a problem for the early church?

James is a believer in the reality of the risen Lord Jesus. He went from being a sneering skeptic to a humble and devout servant of the living God. James sees certain behaviors in the church body that he does not approve of. The unwanted behaviors he focuses on are centered around people who have wealth and power and who want to be counted among the Christians.

These people are the targets of James’ letter. They are people fear God and have come to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. They have acquired wealth either by inheriting it or some other means. Along the way, they have acquired bad habits. Habits that involve keeping or acquiring more money and wealth. Usually at the expense of those who are poor or have less.

The poor have come to fear the rich because the rich have both power and prestige. It is hard for the poor to see the rich as a brother in the faith because the differences in wealth and position are so great.

As God looks down on our lives he sees us in ways no one else will ever be able to see. He knows our hearts. He understands what motivates us. God knows that all men need redemption, rich and poor alike.

God also sees the body of Christ and can tell if it is healthy or not. This tendency of the rich to hold to the habits and attitudes of the world’s wealthy is harmful to the body. God also knows which rich people are humble before him in their hearts and which are not.

James takes strong words to the rich among the believers, reminding them that they, too, will die. They need a stern word to help them achieve the humble and loving attitude that God wants for all his children. James is the one God chose to carry this important message.

Application: Almost all us have some material possession that has the appearance of “wealth” to someone else. Each of us can benefit from the self-examination James encourages the wealthy to engage in.

Food for Thought: At what point is a person safe from falling into the traps faced by the wealthy?