Definition and Context:
Rusted refers to the process by which metal, particularly iron, corrodes and deteriorates due to exposure to moisture and oxygen, resulting in a reddish-brown flaky coating. In biblical times, rust was a common phenomenon, as metals were widely used for tools, weapons, and currency. The concept of rust is often used metaphorically in the Bible to illustrate the impermanence of earthly treasures and the corrupting nature of sin.

Biblical References:
The Bible uses the imagery of rust to convey spiritual truths, particularly in the teachings of Jesus. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against the accumulation of earthly wealth, which is susceptible to decay and theft. He emphasizes the importance of storing up treasures in heaven, which are eternal and incorruptible. In Matthew 6:19-20 , Jesus states, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Theological Significance:
The metaphor of rust serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of material possessions. It underscores the biblical teaching that earthly wealth is temporary and ultimately unsatisfying. The process of rusting symbolizes the inevitable decay and corruption that affects all things in a fallen world. This imagery calls believers to focus on spiritual wealth, which is imperishable and secure in the presence of God.

Moral and Ethical Implications:
The concept of rust challenges Christians to examine their priorities and values. It encourages a lifestyle of simplicity and generosity, where the pursuit of material wealth is secondary to spiritual growth and service to others. The warning against rusting treasures serves as a call to invest in relationships, acts of kindness, and the advancement of God's kingdom, which yield eternal rewards.

Practical Application:
In practical terms, the biblical teaching on rust invites believers to practice stewardship over their resources. This includes using wealth to support the needy, fund missionary work, and contribute to the church's mission. By doing so, Christians align their lives with the eternal values of the kingdom of God, ensuring that their investments are not subject to the decay symbolized by rust.

Related Concepts:
· Decay and Corruption: Rust is often associated with the broader biblical themes of decay and corruption, which are consequences of sin and the fall of humanity. Romans 8:21 speaks of creation being "set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."
· Eternal Treasures: The contrast between earthly and heavenly treasures is a recurring theme in Scripture. Colossians 3:2 advises believers to "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
· Stewardship: The responsible management of resources is a biblical principle that encourages believers to use their possessions for God's glory and the benefit of others, as seen in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30).

Conclusion:
While the Bible does not explicitly mention the word "rusted," the concept is deeply embedded in its teachings on material wealth and spiritual priorities. The imagery of rust serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of earthly possessions and the enduring value of heavenly treasures.(imp. & p. p.) of Rust.2728. katioo -- to rust over
... over. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: katioo Phonetic Spelling: (kat-ee-o'-
o) Short Definition: I rust Definition: I rust; pass: I am rusted, tarnished. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2728.htm - 6k

A Sermon Made by M. Hugh Latimer, at the Time of the Insurrection ...
... Nay, I tell you it is old truth, long rusted with your canker, and now new made
bright and scoured. ... But how hath this truth over-rusted with the pope's rust? ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/a sermon made by m.htm

Buying the Truth
... we may have to sell, yet we must never sell the truth, but hold it fast as a treasure
that will last us when gold has cankered, and silver has rusted, and the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/buying the truth.htm

Letter vi. In My Last Two Letters I have Given the State of the ...
... of this, an idler or scoffer should wander through the rooms, peering and peeping,
and either detects, or fancies he has detected, here a rusted sword or ...
/.../coleridge/confessions of an inquiring spirit etc/letter vi in my last.htm

The Heart with the Treasure.
... the heart which haunts the treasure-house where the moth and rust corrupt, will
be exposed to the same ravages as the treasure, will itself be rusted and moth ...
/.../macdonald/unspoken sermons/the heart with the treasure.htm

Buying the Truth
... we may have to sell, yet we must never sell the truth, but hold it fast as a treasure
that will last us when gold has cankered and silver has rusted and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/buying the truth.htm

Choice of Company
... yet take good heed, and beware of him, and thou shalt be unto him as one that hath
wiped a mirror, and thou shalt know that he hath not utterly rusted it. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/v choice of company.htm

Rusty Money.
... He says, "Your gold and silver are rusted, and their rust shall be for a testimony
against you."[36] It would seem as though there were quite a bit of rusty ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks with world winners/rusty money.htm

Psalm CXLVI.
... The soul indeed is sinful, is stained with certain defilements of lusts; yet
gold, though rusted, is better than the most polished lead. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxlvi.htm

October the Fifth the Soul and Nature
... What then? "Tune my heart to sing Thy praise." We must bring the broken strings,
the rusted strings, the jarring strings to the Repairer and Tuner of the soul. ...
/.../jowett/my daily meditation for the circling year/october the fifth the soul.htm

O Thou who Art Made Priest after Thy Master, the Illustrious after ...
... for thee scribes and judges, exactors also and dispensers, overseers also and officers:
to each assign his work, lest haply by care should be rusted, or by ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn xviii o thou who.htm

Rusted (1 Occurrence)
...Rusted (1 Occurrence). James 5:3 Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their
rust shall be for a testimony against you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. ...
/r/rusted.htm - 6k

Rust (7 Occurrences)
... ios, was used in Greek to denote the corroding of metals. In James 5:3 occurs,
"Your gold and your silver are rusted; and their rust.... ...
/r/rust.htm - 11k

Gangrene (1 Occurrence)
... Cankered in James 5:3 the King James Version means "rusted" (Greek katiotai), and
is so rendered in the Revised Version (British and American). ...
/g/gangrene.htm - 8k

Iron (104 Occurrences)
... It is easily oxidized (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive
agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum). Atomic weight 55.9. ...
/i/iron.htm - 50k

Rustle (1 Occurrence)

/r/rustle.htm - 7k

Canker (4 Occurrences)
... A gangrene or mortification which gradually spreads over the whole body (2 Timothy
2:17). In James 5:3 "cankered" means "rusted" (RV) or tarnished. ...
/c/canker.htm - 9k

Cankered (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CANKERED. kan'-kerd (James 5:3 the Revised Version
(British and American), "rusted"). Multi-Version Concordance ...
/c/cankered.htm - 7k

Brick (10 Occurrences)
... The wood rotted and the iron rusted away, leaving for the excavator a few bronze
and stone implements and the fragments of pottery which are so precious as a ...
/b/brick.htm - 15k

Rusted: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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