The False Security James 5:1-6
The Book of James • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Misuse of Riches
Misuse of Riches
Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.”
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?
Warning the Wicked Wealthy
Unbelievers who are wealthy
Now James is written to believers so what is happening here?
Addresses one crowd for the benefit of the other crowd
Not a Sin to be Wealthy
God cares how you get your wealth and what you do with your wealth
God looks at the heart
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
Announces Judgment
Listen to me rich men who are unbelievers
Starts to speak to the brethren in verse 7
God will right all these wrongs
Weep and howl
Prophetic perfect = will come upon them and will ultimately happen to them
Money cannot buy happiness
Money cannot be your master
(See also: Giving; Stewardship)
If God gave you ten times as much as you give him could you live on it?
Anonymous
Obtained by fraudulent and cruel means and spending it on selfish luxury
Four indictments against these rich
Four indictments against these rich
Hoarding - uselessly hoarded Vs 2-3
Hoarding - uselessly hoarded Vs 2-3
will be a witness against you
property food clothes and silver/gold
Bigger closets (walk in closets)
The rich fool after talking about covetousness
take your ease - eat drink and be merry
He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
“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 neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Resources belong to God
Fraud - Unjustly gained Vs. 4
Fraud - Unjustly gained Vs. 4
you don’t cheat, lie, and steal to receive gain
Lord of Sabaoth or Lord of Hosts
Laborers lived hand to mouth
“You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns. “You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he will not cry against you to the Lord and it become sin in you.
“Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness And his upper rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay And does not give him his wages,
We look around and wonder where is the justice
Self-indulgence Vs. 5
Self-indulgence Vs. 5
Lived in pleasure - Life of luxury and immorality
wanton - do what feels good to you
But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
in a day of slaughter or the fatted calf
placed in a special field with better grass and fed well to get fattened up
the other cows envy him only he is only getting all this good things to be slaughtered in the end
Need an eternal perspective
Murder - ruthlessly obtained Vs. 6
Murder - ruthlessly obtained Vs. 6
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
People have murdered for money
Many movies tell you to follow the money
Naboth’s vineyard
Two men to falsely accuse Naboth
Then the prophet of God shows up
“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to take possession of it. “You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Have you murdered and also taken possession?” ’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.” ’ ”
Love money and use people verses Love people and use money