Your gold and silver are corroded, and their rust will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
Truth to Learn
What we view as treasure indicates where our heart’s desire is.
Behind the Words
“Corroded” is translated from the Greek verb katioō, which is made up of kata, meaning “down” and the verb form of ios, meaning “rust” or “corrosion.” Hence, it means “to rust down” or “to rust away completely.” This verb is expressed in the perfect tense; therefore, its meaning is, “Your gold and silver have rusted away and are now completely corroded.”
“Witness” is from marturion, which is the noun form of the verb martureō, meaning “to give testimony” or “to be a witness.”
The words “heaped up” are translated from thēsauridzō, which is the verb form of thēsauros, meaning “treasure” and from which we get our English word Thesaurus, meaning a treasury of words. The word thēsauridzō, therefore, refers to the stockpiling or treasuring up of goods simply for the pleasure of having it.
The Greek word translated “last” is eschatos, which is a superlative meaning “final” or “extreme last.” The study of prophesy of future things and the last days of mankind is known as eschatology.
Meaning Explained
In the previous verse James talked about the perishable items which rich people were storing up and how such hoarding is futile because these riches will rot and become moth eaten. Now he talks about two of the precious metals which are most often used for coinage. They are used for this purpose because, among other things, they resist corrosion. Gold, in its purest form in fact, does not corrode at all and silver only slightly.
Does God not understand chemistry? Is James mistaken? Since gold and silver don’t corrode, and even if they did they would not eat flesh like fire, this passage must be viewed metaphorically. James is saying that, in a spiritual sense, any gold and silver that is hoarded will waste away and produce a cancerous effect on those who rely on such “riches.”
And, based on the verses that will follow, it appears that James is alluding to the final judgment of mankind. At that Great White Throne, Jesus will condemn the rich people for the way they have obtained their wealth and for hoarding it to themselves rather than using it for the good of mankind and the furtherance of God’s kingdom.
Application
We can’t take our earthly wealth with us when we appear before our God, but we can lay up treasures in heaven by utilizing the wealth, talent, and time that God has given us on this earth for Godly purposes. What we do with our possessions is a direct indication of where our heart truly is. Christ Himself said it this way in Matthew 6:19-21:
Do not treasure up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But treasure up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not dig through and steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Where is your heart?
Copyright © 2015 Will Krause. All rights reserved