Devotionals by Raul Ries

THURSDAY August 6, 2026

Hoarding Money

Indeed the wages of the laborers 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.
James 5:4

James knew the rich were taking advantage of their laborers. He confronted them as fraudulent employers who were ripping off their employees instead of paying them what they were owed. He warned them, “Do you know God hears their cries?” I am sure they had their families to feed and rents to pay. James wanted them to know they would not get away with their greed. God is just, and He will judge them.

Do you see how easy it is for the rich to fall into the temptation of embezzling money? They have an incessant greed that causes them to hoard more wealth and material things. Rich people can become blinded by their greed. They spend money lavishly on what they want without a thought of helping those who are in desperate straits. God has blessed them with so much, but they do not readily share their wealth.

As I look at the world today, I find that there is a growing number of young adults who just do not want to work. Instead, they get caught up in schemes that promise them they can make money fast. They will even lie and cheat to get what they want. They find fraudulent ways to take advantage of the elderly or gullible people to swindle. We live in a money-driven society where the motto is, “If you do not have it, get it because you deserve it.”

The Apostle Paul set down a pattern of giving for Christians to follow. We are called to help others in need: “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ ” (Acts 20:35).

Ask yourself, “Do I pass by those in need, or do I stop to assist those in need?”

He who has a generous eye will be blessed,
for he gives of his bread to the poor.
~Proverbs 22:9~

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