One of the great archaeological discoveries are the ruins of Pompeii and its surrounding settlements. They were destroyed when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD. The pyroclastic flows from the volcano killed the 16,000 inhabitant in moments, perfectly preserving their remains as they were.
These buried remains give us one of the greatest glimpses of life in the 1st Century Roman Empire. Those that didn’t know what was coming died while they were working in their gardens, preparing for meal, busy writing, or shopping for furniture.
At the time of its destruction, Pompeii was a holiday getaway where Rome’s rich and famous would go to relax and play. There are signs of their wealth and opulence in the remains. Some had just enough time to grab a few valuables and head for the sea in a vain hope of rescue. Consider the famous “ring lady” who was found with her gold, jeweled rings still on her fingers. Also notice her gold bracelets.
Another woman was found still clutching precious jewelry and a bag of gold coins in her hands. Even in the face of impending doom, these people still clung to their worldly possessions.
James offers a similar warning to those who put their hope and trust in their wealth and possessions. He says that misery is coming and their wealth will not help them, and even testify against them.
Living in not only one of the wealthiest nations on earth, but one of the wealthiest nations in all of history, it is hard for us toe escape the tempting allure of wealth. Materialism is perhaps one the most tolerated sins in the church James’ words in James 5:1-6 could be some of the toughest for us to hear, but also some of the most relevant.
Join us Sunday as we look at the first 6 verses of James 4.