What are some of the lies about material wealth that James is confronting and correcting in this passage?

Why do you think that James is warning rich people that misery is coming upon them (5:1)? How do we reconcile that with our experience, where we usually assume that material wealth will bring happiness, and not misery?

In this passage, James is confronting our tendency to trust in material wealth, and to think that it will make us happy. Do you relate to this tendency? If so, how does it manifest itself in your life?

Have you experienced a temptation toward self-indulgence in your life? If so, how has it affected you?

What is the problem with seeking contentment and fulfillment in material wealth? How can we break that cycle, and begin to find true contentment?

According to James 5:4, we do not have the liberty to acquire wealth in any way that we see fit. On the contrary, Jesus is our king, and He has authority over how we go about earning and acquiring money. What implications does this have for us, as Christians? What does it look like for us to earn money in a way that glorifies God?

According to this text, how does our money (how we earn it, how we spend it, how we relate to it) affect our eternity? How should this reality affect how we live in this life?

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