Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves (Philippians 2:3)

For those who gain their wealth unjustly, through scams or deceit, and ultimately deny others of the things that are rightfully theirs, God stand in judgment against them. James’ description in the reading for today is a lifestyle of self-indulgence, luxury and extravagance gained at the cost of others.

The greedy people can also be guilty of this through taking the opposite extreme, that of miserly living. For many years, Hetty Green was called America’s greatest miser. When she died in 1916, she left an estate valued at $100 million, a vast fortune for that day. But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating water.

When her son had a severe leg injury, she took so long trying to find a free clinic to treat him that he had to have his leg amputated because of severe infection. People say that she hastened her own death because she refused to eat properly.

Either extreme in our dealings with worldly possessions place us in danger of judgment. We need to seek a balance in our lives of respecting the earthly possessions that God so freely will give us and remember to honor the gifts with appropriate sharing and tithing.

Holy God, we honor You today for the gifts You so graciously give. May we never forget to honor the gifts through sharing with others.