Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.
Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten,
your gold and silver have corroded,
and that corrosion will be a testimony against you;
it will devour your flesh like a fire.
You have stored up treasure for the last days.
Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers
who harvested your fields are crying aloud;
and the cries of the harvesters
have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure;
you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter.
You have condemned;
you have murdered the righteous one;
he offers you no resistance. – James 5:1-6

The ‘rich’ referred to here by James represent also the ‘elders’ who refused to use their privilege to help the poor and the needy, but rather enriched themselves, while oppressing and killing the poor. Many of the poor today are led into sin as a result of the actions and inactions of the rich and powerful, whose relevance in the society is dependent on the sufferings of the poor. It is to such individuals that James speaks to today. Any one of us can fall into that category and that is why it is important to stay guard over our bodies and souls, and to cut off anything that would lead us into such grave sin of injustice towards the poor and the vulnerable.