Corrupted Riches and Motheaten Garments James 5:2

As James, the “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”, began to wind down his exhortations to his readers, he addressed people who were “rich” among them. He told them they should, “weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon” them, and in chapter five and verse two of his letter, he shared about their “corrupt riches” and their “moth-eaten garments” where we read:

Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

The verse begins, “Your riches are corrupted,...” James began with the words, “Your riches” which refers to “the rich people's wealth, abundance of external possessions, fullness and plentitude” “are corrupted” which means “destroyed and rotten”. James declared the “wealth and abundance” gathered by the people of means were “rotten” and thereby worth little value.

The verse goes on to say, “...and your garments are motheaten.” James continued, “and your garments” which means “the rich people's cloaks, mantles, tunics, robes and vestures” “are motheaten” which is the Greek word “sētobrōtos” which means “eaten by moths”. James declared the “expensive clothing” of these “rich” people was filled with holes that were fashioned by common “house moths”.

When we think through these words of James, we understand how he thought the precious things of the “rich” people were not nearly as “valuable” as they thought. “Rotten” “riches” and “moth-eaten” clothes are desired by very few, and in nature they are at best temporary. If we use our imaginations, we can form a mental picture about what James is conveying. Jesus Christ desires to give us the most “valuable” asset we shall ever obtain – a relationship with Him. No “riches” on earth can compare to the “glory” of first “seeking” “the kingdom of God and His righteousness”, and those who are wise will put much less value upon material things that are subject to “rottenness, moths and destruction” and ascribe much more worth to those things which are eternal and shall never be destroyed.

Next time James shares about “gold, silver” and “treasures”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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