07.26.02

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just…. - James 5:1-6a.

The corporate crooks like former WorldCom chief financial officer Scott Sullivan who was fired because of a $3.8 billion cooking of the books are living large. Sullivan is proceeding with the building of his new mansion on 4.3 acres of lakefront property with an estimated value when completed of $15 million. Sullivan’s little home on the beach will have an 18-seat theater, domed exercise room, library, art gallery, wine cellar, 80 ft. heated pool, and his and hers 500 sq. ft. walk-in closets off the master bedroom. The estate will also include a guesthouse, a private lagoon, and a two-story boathouse.

The words of James take on new meaning for us in these days of corporate crooks that have ruined the lives of thousands and thousands of people. In a time when these self serving people have taken the millions and run we have congress ready to tighten bankruptcy laws and the President ready to sign their bill. Sadly this is at the very time those bankruptcy laws may have desperately been needed by some laid off from their jobs because of corporate greed. The change in bankruptcy laws is being brought about by credit card companies to protect their loan sharking activities. This is just another example of corporate greed and the complicity of our government in their activities. (Please forward this devotional to your representatives in Congress and to the President. The President may be emailed at president@whitehouse.gov)

For those of us outraged by this conduct and for the thousands who have been directly damaged by their criminal activities James has words of wisdom and comfort. James says, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:7-8).” James makes it clear that the Lord will be our avenger and that day is rapidly approaching for these selfish people.

While these corporate crooks are living large in material things through their evil activities we should live large spiritually. Let them not rob us of our joy in the Lord. James tells us to be “patient” and to “establish your hearts.” Our Lord tells us in the Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6).” While the evil prospers for a time let us live large spiritually knowing that our joy comes not from the material world but from our relationship with our Lord and Savior. Our “hunger and thirst for righteousness” will “be filled.”