Money, Money, Money 3
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Text: James 4:2-3
Text: James 4:2-3
Awe James 4 that great passage on prayer. We can glean so much on the subject of prayer from this passage. Or maybe more correctly we gain a great deal of knowledge on how NOT to pray.
Would it shock anyone here to find out that prayer is not the primary point of this passage. I would hope not. It’s primary issue is our attitude toward gain.
Consider what is said about the action of prayer.
Ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not because ye ask amiss
And that is it a sum total of two verses that even mention prayer and it then doesn’t say the word prayer it says ‘ask’.
Consider what the point of those two verses are.
Ye lust
ye have not
ye kill
desire to have
ye fight and war
ye may consume it
your own lust
In fact this passage has a context that begins in chapter 3. That leads the author to ask the question, “from whence comes wars and fightings among you?”
The conclusion of the author is verse 4
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
He boils the whole problem down to one issue...
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
Where do wars and fightings come from. From where does our world get this disorder that can never enjoy lasting peace and real trust. Why is it that nation fights against nation, gang against gang, why is race still so divisive, why are politics such a good club to use on the masses, why can you not get along in your marriage. These disorders are real and evident and they are fracturing down to the last relationship you have.
James tells us the answer from where this divisive society has sprung. It is explained in the end of chapter 3. James describes the so-called wisdom of the world:
First, figure out what you really want out of life (bitter envy)
Second, plan to get it for yourself at any cost (“strife” - selfish ambition).
He described this earthly, unspiritual, demonic philosophy as the source of disorder and all sorts of evil in the world
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
James, speaking to all those that would use the wisdom of the world, concludes that the worlds wisdom is leading to all the disorders found in verse 2-3 and leaves the one who would ask empty and without power to be heard.
This “envy” that is dealt with in 5.14 drives the culture to run over top of one another and grapple and claw leaveing pain in our wake. James says this is the opposite of the Wisdom of God.
God’s design is seen in James admonition to meekness.
Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Meekness is that power under control the dynamite that though it could explode with great force keeps is power under the control of another. Though you have the ability to go and scrap for the almighty dollar you will keep your spirit in line the attitude of Jesus.
It is here that you see the stark contrast of Heavens wisdom and the World’s Wisdom.
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Eyyyy, I don’t like that preacher. You don’t understand but in the real world it is every man for himself.
You don’t understand preacher but in my marriage I have to fight for what’s mine.
You don’t get it, with my family you have to have some pretty sharp elbows
You don’t understand there is no one out here looking after me.
Preacher if you could be out here in the real world you’d find out that the weak get eaten.
Hey, I’m gonna prepare my kids for the real world they need to be ready to fight to the top.
Then why is James so certain on this? Why is it that James is so certain that the church should guard against this spirit.
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Understand that what you think is about your pocket book is actually about your heart.
When you think God is asking you to mind your money is actually about God putting the measuring tape to your heart.
You are more than what you make...
You are first and foremost a child of God. And there is one thing that we can be certain of God does not care about how much money you’ve brought to the kingdom. He cares that you are surrendered to his control in that kingdom.
It is from this reality that we know Envy and the climb to the top and the hunger for more does more that eat at your soul, It tears down your walk with God.
The exit of envy starts when you trust that God can take care of you.
This is why James pleads.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
You might say okay what does it look like for me to be surrendered to him?
The surrendered Servant:
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
Notice the desire of God is not lazy workers, rather his desire is workers that will leave control in his hands and the results to his glory.
It is from this heart of surrender that we can hear James instruct us...
Abandon the World’s Wisdom. (7)
In reference to this sin James says resist the wisdom that says the more you have the better you are. This is a convincing lie that leave millions striving but never filling the hunger of their heart. If you’ll resist the lie the temptation will subside.
Keep your eyes on God first. (8)
If you were here Sunday Morning you know that Matthew taught us that God is our first priority and that the PURE in HEART will see God. James reflects on this directly. Your job is to keep God and your relationship with him your top priority.
Be ready to embrace what God has in store for you. (9)
That is not a name it claim it verse. These saints could stand to face real persecution for the name of Christ. James says it would be a better trade that having all your envies fulfilled.
Acknowledge the pride that puts you in charge of the life Christ purchased. (10)
Humility is the trust what you can’t see about the promises of God.
When this is all in place building up my Christians brothers and sisters becomes my first ambition. Kindness in my workplace and marriage are the hallmark of someone who is no longer working by the worlds wisdom.
Consider with me then the one who never failed to submit to his father.
Christ submitted in his own ambition.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Satan said, I can give you the kingdoms of this world and you don’t have to wait on your Father to get to it. You can short cut all that God wants, and I’ll give them to you right now.
Christ without an once of worldly ambition to gain and climb to the top, remained under the control of his Father.
And when the path of submission took our Savior to the Cross we find his ambition,
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Just in case you question his motivation He did it twice
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
How could our Savior hold such heavenly wisdom?
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
I submit to you Christ is the source of all heavenly wisdom and by his grace you and I can submit with the same meekness as Christ.
And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
What James sees is a church full of people that have rejected the godless wisdom of the world and instead have surrendered themselves to the grace of God. And will view their possessions in light of God’s will and they are fully submitted to his plan and attitude.