Is Being "Rich" Bad or Good

9 Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, ¹⁰and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. ¹¹For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.(James 1)

Does James actually mean that to be rich is somehow a detriment? A life not worthy of God’s precious care?

I wonder????

I remember, one winter day, a Seminary classmate of mine came storming into the lunchroom waving her hand above her head and saying:  “I am so sick of hearing that wealthy people are bad.”

Does the Bible really say that being rich is a bad thing? 

Or could it mean that it is how people, who find themselves, in a financially fortunate position use their wealth?  

Which this short passage does not address.

This is another example of how the Bible can be used to create problems within any given community or group.

Having said that, it is true that in the ancient cultures people with wealth tended to be quiet greedy.  

They also tended to use their wealth to gain power.  Power over the less fortunate. 

However we can say the same about wealthy people today.  Right? 

Then we would have to also say that there are many wealthy people who are very generous as well. Will they be subject to the strict code of ethics the James announces?

¹⁰and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field.

Being rich in-and-of-itself is not bad — sinful.

So why would James leave the subject in this critical way? 

To me it makes God look like a mean, nasty, judge that points a finger of lightening down on all people who are less than poor.

This kind of message is divisive and one-sided.

What are you thinking?