2019-09-22 James 5:1-4 MISERABLY RICH (1): ABUSERS OF MONEY

MISERABLY RICH (1): ABUSERS OF MONEY (James 5:1-4) September 22, 2019 Read James 5:1-4 – Money. Those that don’t have it want it. Those that got it want more. It is insidiously enslaving. John Steinbeck in a ltr to Adalai Stevenson in the Jan 28, 1960 Washington Post said, “A strange species we are. We can stand anything God and nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much, and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, sick.” The same could surely be said of the church. J. C. Ryle said, “Nothing I am sure has such a tendency to quench the fire of religion as the possession of money.” Strong statements. But hardly as strong as Jas. He is devastating: “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.” “Weep” – same word used when Peter “went out and wept bitterly” (Mt 26:75) after denying Jesus. “Howl” – used in OT to describe the shrieks of those facing war and God’s judgment (Isa 13:6; 15:2-3). “Miseries” -- overwhelming suffering and distress. This is fearsome language – not usually associated with the rich. To us, rich people live above miseries. But Jas says while they may be riding high today, they are more susceptible to a miserable future than others. Why? Bc riches are a short-term physical advantage, but a long-term spiritual disadvantage. The more we have, the less likely we are to look ahead! We’re doing fine as is! So Jesus warned in Lu 18:24b, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25) For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Why? Because they have plenty. The danger or riches is they tempt us to settle for them without considering their limitations. So can one be rich and not miserable? Of course. The miserable rich Jas has in mind are those to whom money is ultimate – the end all. It doesn’t have to be that way. The Bible is filled with people who were rich and not miserable like Abe, Joseph, David, and Daniel. They had money; money didn’t have them. Jas is talking to those who have settled for money as the end all. They have it great now, but they have a miserable future that they’re ignoring. So, is Jas addressing believers or non-believers? The language is ferocious. These people’s future is howling and shrieking; they’re being fattened for a day of slaughter – all sounding like descriptions of hell – as they are. So most many conclude Jas is defending his Jewish Xn brothers, dispersed by 1 persecution, against wealthy landowners in their new homes who are abusing them. He’s warning those tyrants that a hellish future awaits them. But – why would Jas address people who will not even see the letter? They’re outside the church; he’s addressing those within. But that makes his warnings all the more unnerving, doesn’t it? He’s addressing professing but not possessing believers whose real god is money but whose future is dark indeed. And they are inside! As throughout this letter, Jas is contrasting true faith vs. false faith – faith that works vs. faith that is a mere profession. His language is calculated to cause those whose real god is money to re-think their position. ALSO, his words warn true believers who have reverted to materialism. Money is the most extreme test of true faith. And money is the thing most likely to distract true believers from faithful service. Jas is aiming at both – false professors and true believers drawn by the pleasures of wealth. Now, one last point before we delve into the text. The issue here is not money, but the inordinate love of money. Those are the ones who have a miserable future. I Tim 6:10: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” The issue isn’t how much you have; it’s how much you want. So this is for all of us. The issue is where money ranks on our list of wants! Jas pictures what characterizes those who are miserably rich – or miserably wanting to be rich. Who are these lovers of money and am I one? I. Lovers of Money Abuse Their Riches Lovers of money abuse what wealth they have, little or lot. They don’t use it for its intended purpose; they hoard it. Vv. 2-3: Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded.” In Jesus’ time there were three main sources of wealth. First, there was land which yielded grain and produce. These would rot if you hoarded rather than using them. Second, there was clothing. We don’t get that bc casual is in, and we buy bargain clothes at Target anytime. But it was a big deal in ancient times. Joseph gave garments to his brothers as gifts in Gen 45:22. Samson promised “thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes” to anyone who could solve his riddle (Judges 14:12). In II Kings 5:5, Naaman brought silver, gold and “ten changes of clothing” when he sought Elisha’s help with his leprosy. And third, silver and gold were naturally sources of wealth. So, one could display his wealth in three ways: by feasting lavishly, dressing extravagantly and spending wildly. Some things never change! 2 Jas targets all three. “Your riches have rotted.” “Rotted” (σεπω) only here in the NT, elsewhere refers to rotting wood, flesh and fruit. So, here it is produce stored too long. By hoarding, food goes bad, garments get moth-eaten and precious metals tarnish. That would destroy the food and the clothing. Gold and silver are indestructible, Jas’ point isn’t the temporary nature of those things; it is what happens when they are not used. Food and clothing will be destroyed; gold and silver might as well be since it is of no use to anyone sitting in the safe somewhere or buried in the ground. The burden of Jas’ message is, whatever you have came from God. And He didn’t give it to you to hoard; He gave it to you to use. You are a steward of God’s resources, placed in your hands for a purpose, not to hoard. We’re not here to see how much we can amass, but how much we can dispense! Now, the issue here is hoarding, not saving. The Bible commends saving against lean times – unforeseen emergencies or retirement when income is harder to come by. Prov 6:6-8: “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7) Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8) she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.” God is not against saving for hard times; He commends it. Prov 10:25: “The ants are a people no strong, yet they provide their food in the summer.” God is not against saving; but He is against hoarding – holding on to more than is reasonably needed. So we must draw a line between prudent saving and self-indulgent hoarding. There’s a difference between necessities and conveniences on one hand, and luxuries and self-indulgence on the other. Where is that line? The Bible gives principles, not rules. How many cars are too many? How big a house is too big? How many clothes are too many? The Bible doesn’t firmly draw that line. But the point is we better find a way to draw that line. It’s for sure God is. Just check the penalties for going overboard. 2b: “Their corrosion (hoarding) will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.” Pretty graphic! Ever spill acid on yourself? Burns like fire. That would be bad enough, but, Jas is depicting is the pain of hell. So he’s urging: “Find your line!” We need to be asking, “Is this really a necessity or is it a luxury? Should I be spending this on myself, or should I be doing something else with it? How much do I really need for a comfortable retirement – not luxurious, but comfortable?” You say, “Boy, I’d hate to live a life like that.” But that is the life we are called to, Beloved. The issue is – are we real or fake? Jesus weeded out false followers by this call: Mt 8:20: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have 3 nests, bu the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” He’s not saying, “Go homeless.” But He is saying, “You’re called to a life of sacrifice here. The good news is, spend it right and you can send it on ahead – get it all back in the end. But never by hoarding. That’s the way to lose it all.” I can’t set the line for you and you can’t set it for me, but we’d all better set it. Money is always a test! Lu 16:9: “And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.” He’s saying hoarded wealth is unrighteous, so use it to further the gospel which will result in people in heaven as a result of your giving – to church, missions, evangelism efforts. You’ll find you’ve got friends in heaven saying, “Thank you so much for giving to so-and-so. I’d never be here if they hadn’t brought the gospel to me. Thank you.” That’s a lot better and longer-lasting than a new and bigger boat, Beloved. How about helping those in need? I Jn 3:17: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?” Eph 4:28: “Let the thief no longer steal but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to (hoard? No – to) share with anyone in need.” God has put whatever wealth into our hands to spread it around, not to hoard it to no one’s advantage. Travel light. Note 3c: “You have laid up treasure in the last days.” They’re investing in time, not eternity. They need to reverse that. Spurgeon was once invited by a wealthy man to preach in a country church to urge members to raise funds to pay off a debt. The man told Spurgeon he was free to use his country house, his town house or his seaside home. Spurgeon wrote him back: “Sell one of the places and pay the debt yourself.” That’s telling it like it is. He wasn’t condemning the man – just trying to keep him from evidence that would “eat [his] flesh like fire.” Wesley’s a favorite example. He made little as a simple preacher. But by the end of his life he was making tons from publications. But here’s how he managed. First year he made 30 pounds, he gave away three. Next year he made 40 pounds and gave away 10. Next year he made 70 and gave away 40. He stayed living on 30. One year he made 1400. Gave it all away except 30. Wesley feared the hold money can get, so gave it away as fast as he got it. A proud plantation owner once showed him around his estate. For hours they rode and still didn’t cover it all. At dinner the man asked, “Well, Mr. Wesley, what do you think?” Wesley replied, “I think you’re going to have a hard 4 time leaving all this.” Wesley understood a great truism. Every day brings us one day closer to death. That means if our treasure is in heaven, we are one day closer to getting it all back. If our treasure is hoarded up on earth, we are one day closer to losing it all. That’s a sobering thought. Here’s a Xn question: “Is my standard of living going up as fast as my income?” It must not. The more we make, the greater the distance there must be between the lifestyle we do live and the lifestyle we could live. Tim Keller says, “No Xn must live as well as they’re capable of. Nobody.” Where’s the line? We must all answer for ourselves. But Jas sees severe consequences for abuse. Hoarded wealth not only rots itself; it will rot our soul – potentially destroying us permanently. What would you have a hard time leaving behind? Randy Alcorn says, “God prospers us not to raise our standard of living, but to raise our standard of giving." Abuse of wealth soon becomes self-abuse. II. Lovers of Money Abuse Their Fellowmen During Jesus’ time, land was concentrated in the hands of a few meaning most men had to hire out for whatever they could get – fair or not. Furthermore, the rich often led them to delay paying wages, further oppressing the poor. God forbids such behavior. Deut 24:15: “You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin.” Failure to pay on time is a sin – pure and simple. Such regulations are all over the OT. Lev 19:13b: “The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.” God constantly sides with the poor and those who are owed money. Yet we play this game all the time. In most businesses, it is standard practice to withhold payables for as long as possible to collect interest on the money – a shell game, paying only when absolutely necessary, and never on time. If you own a Xn business and do things like that, shame on you. Whatever you learned in MBA class, you need to re-examine your practices. But it’s not just businesses, is it? Do you pay your bills on time? We’re pretty vocal when service is late, but we’re not nearly so prompt at paying. But we must not step on others, or stiff them, for our own financial gain. We must not be those who do not pay on time so we can take a grand vacation or buy a new car. If you contract for it, pay it – on time. Otherwise, be assured, “the cries of [those owed] have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.” 5 Even worse, are you cheating God? Are you holding out on what He has asked – a minimum of 10% of your income to His work? Bob Harrington was a pastor who had a deacon come to him: “Will you pray with me that I will tithe?” Harrington asked, “Well, what do you want to do? Kneel right here?” “Yes.” “Eyes closed?” “Yes.” “Side by side?” “Yes.” “How close?” “Well, just side by side?” Harrington said, “That’s too close.” The guy said, “What do you mean, too close?” Harrington said, “I can’t get that close with my eyes close. I have money in my pocket. The first thing I know you’ll be robbing me just like you’ve been robbing God all these years. Let’s not waste our time here. You don’t need prayer. You need to do what you know is right.” You get the point. If you owe it, whether to others, or even more importantly to God – if you owe it, pay it. Pay it on time and cheerfully if you have it at all. Pay it. Otherwise, you’ll see that bill again – because it’s reached the Lord’s account books. Don’t let love of money cause you to abuse others. Conc – Someone charity was appealing to W. C. Fields to donate some money. Fields responded that he’d have to confer with his lawyer. The rep said, “And what will you do it your lawyer says yes?” Fields replied, “Get another lawyer.” He had a death grip on his money – but actually it had a death grip on him. That should never be true of any true child of God. Let’s act like who we are – younger brothers and sisters of the One who “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (II Cor 8:9). That’s our example. Let’s follow His lead. No hoarding, but helping. Not postponing, but paying. Let’s pray. 6