Jacob illustrates the difference in attitudes between those who use wealth well when they have it and those who abuse it when they have it. Those who abuse it are described in verse 13:
Because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are lifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.
Those who use it well are described in verse 17:
Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.
We need to recognize how much good is done by those who are wealthy who have the latter attitude, and it is more of the wealthy than jealousy would lead us to expect.
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