James 4:13-5:6 (CCS)

“Godly Dependance”

Introduction: The letter should be titled, The mature Christian or the way to Christian maturity

Review: James began chapter 4 speaking of war with God and battles among the brethren. Now he ends the chapter talking about the will of God.

1. (V13) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city and make a profit

In context: James rebuked the kind of heart that lives and makes its plans apart from a constant awareness of the hand of God

James, possibly addressing the wealthy merchants boasting of their plans, of going here and going there, buying and selling, we see no evidence they sought the Lord’s will

We live in a world, where it takes money to feed and cloth ourselves, that’s not the problem

The root of the problem is they never stopped to pray and consider the will of the Lord

They became a friend of the world and lost focus on the things of God

Their priorities have become off balanced, which remind me of a washer that makes a loud banging noise when the clothes shift to much to one side or another

Our lives can become the same way, when its off balanced

I can remember a time in my life, where I had become off balance. Outwardly I was maintaining my spiritual disciplines, I was living a pure life, keep up with my responsibilities, but I began to prioritize everything around surfing.

Here I felt called into ministry

Yes Lord I will serve you, but I first I need…

a) Are your priorities according to your plan or are they according to the will of the Lord?

Sometimes we can get so busy with the rat race of life they we can step outside of the will of the Lord and maybe we don’t realize it for a period of time

When a believer steps outside of the will of the Lord they become a trouble maker, not a peace maker

Remember the life of King David

God had also told David, through Nathan, that the sword would not depart from his house. Indeed, David’s household had much trouble from that time on.

We see this among David’s children when Amnon raped Tamar, leading to Absalom’s murder of Amnon, and Absalom’s conspiracy against David.

Nathan had also told David that his wives would be given to one who was close to him; this would not occur in secret as had David’s sin with Bathsheba, but in public. The prophecy was fulfilled when Absalom slept with his father’s concubines on the roof for all to see (2 Samuel 16).

b) Rebelling against the will of God comes with consequences

Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

Their mind is focused buying, selling, to make a profit

Their priorities are self focused rather than God focused

Why is that dangerous?

We fail to pray and make our decisions based on common sense

Four years ago, when Calvary Chapel Sonora was in need of a junior high youth pastor, it didn’t make sense for me to pack up our family, sell my parents beach house, to come here as a volunteer.

Most people didn’t agree with my decision, but I prayed and I was certain it was of the Lord

1.1 (V14) For what is your life? It is a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away

Proverbs 16:9 “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”

Matthew 6:19–21 ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

2. (V1) Come now you rich and weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you

a) Wealth is not sin, in fact In the Old Testament, wealth is often seen as a sign of God's blessing.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Job were all prosperous

In Genesis 30, Jacob was ready to move away from his father in law, Laban.

Laban said, name me your wages.

With the wisdom God gave Jacob, he chose the speckled sheep over the brown sheep

Genesis 30:43 As a result, Jacob became very wealthy, with large flocks of sheep and goats, female and male servants, and many camels and donkeys.

In the New Testament Jesus counted some rich persons among His followers (such as Zaccheus, Joseph of Armithea, and Barnabas),

b) Riches do present significant obstacle to the kingdom

The rich ruler, asked Jesus what I must i do to be saved?

The ruler proudly says to Jesus I have kept the law, I do not murder, I do not commit adultery, and I honor my parents

Matthew 19:21–22 “Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”

Jesus tested the heart and the young ruler failed to keep the most important part of the law, which is to love God with everything

His possessions was his god

Matthew 19:23–24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.””

c) Who are the rich?

According to Pew Research Center,  People who are considered low income are living on $2 or less daily, middle income are living on ($10.01-20 per day, upper-middle income ($20-50) and high income (more than $50). This study is based on a family of four.

The temptation for us is be dependent upon “our own resources”

We’re not concerned about whether or not we’re eating dinner

I believe we can become to comfortable

Early in our marriage, we had a growing family, I was going to Bible college and we were very poor. We going to food banks to feed our family but God was faithful and we never went without. I will always remember, one of food banks saw our kids and gave brand new toys for us to wrap up and give to the kids. Our faith really grew as the Lord showed himself faithful because of our need.

James is rebuking the rich in the church because of their dishonest gains to obtain the wealth

2.1 (V2-3) Weep and howl your miseries that are coming upon you

a) James warns then not simply as rich but as wicked, not only wallowing in wealth, but abusing it with pride, luxury, oppression, and cruelty.

The happiness of the rich who are living the good life full of luxury should turn to weeping

Because judgement is coming

Your riches are corrupted, your garments are moth-eaten, your gold and silver corroded and a witness against you

1 Timothy 6:9 “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition

These people James is writing to were caught in the snare of desiring to be rich

They were willing to be dishonest in how they went about gaining riches

b) They kept back the wages of the laborers by fraud

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

The love of money cause people to stray from the faith, to become greedy, and bring on many sorrows

Luke 6:24 ““But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.”

2.3 (V4) The cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth

a) The mature believer when cheated or harmed cries out to the Lord and the Lord hears him

Exodus 2:23 “Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage.”

He cares for us, sometime we can believe the lie that God is to busy to be concerned with me

Deuteronomy 24:15 “Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.”

God commands us to be fair with one another

3. (V7) What should be my attitude?

Be patient