CHRISTIAN LIVING

A CALL TO PHILANTHROPY AND PATIENCE

John Milton once said, “There is nothing that makes men rich and strong but that which they carry inside of them. Wealth is of the heart and not the hands. As Christians, we must be aware of the condition of our heart. Last week we mentioned that we must not pursue wealth but pursue the will of God. Christians must flee the pursuit of wealth, demonstrate stamina in trials, and practice prayer at all times. James in his final chapter reminds us, if you are rich, beware of the love of money and how you use your money. It will backfire on you! If you are not rich, be patient. Life’s ledger will be tallied when the Lord returns. Be patient in suffering, as Jesus was. If you see anyone sinning, try to win him back. You will do him a great favor.

James 5 – A Call to Philanthropy, Patience, and Prayer

Let us pray!

Christian Living

James 5:1–12

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Patience in Suffering

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Misusing Wealth and Power Brings God’s Judgement – judgement comes on rich people for their greed and misuse of wealth

I. A CHRAGE TO PEOPLE WITH MONEY – WARNINGS OF THE PUNISHMENT—vv. 1–6

A warning to the rich – this time to non-Christians who are oppressing Christians

1. Sorrow—v. 1. Man paying for his sin.

Here James is describing what will happen to those who desired wealth over relationship with Jesus.

Weep and wail will be the emotional response they have when they face God and realize all that they ignored from Him

They will weep and howl because of the miseries coming to them – like the rich man and Lazarus parable Jesus told.

The misery is not earthly nor temporal but eternal – His desires and passions will eat away at him like a fiery furnace

Again – having wealth is not the sin – using it to selfishly live, ignoring family and fellow believers and not helping those in need – that is where the sin comes in

2. Selfishness—vv. 2–3. All things soon pass away.

James is basically saying in so many words – you can’t take anything with you –

Clothes deteriorate and your money cannot be used by you after you die – they corrode like coins left out in the elements

Wealth came in 3 forms –

Food – rots spoils quickly

Clothing – tears, eaten my moths insects, wears down

Money – precious metals – even gold corrodes –

Corrosion of gold, precious metals and coins – affect the wealthy in 2 ways

Testifies against them and what is in their heart

Consumes them – consumes their flesh through fiery wrath – divine judgement that awaits those who make wealth primary in their lives

Charges against the rich –

3. Saviour—v. 4. The Lord sees the injustice.

Like those in a burning house – instead of fleeing – try to rescue precious objects and are thus consumed because of their selfishness

Jesus warned us in Matthew 6:19-21 – Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust can destroy but instead lay up for yourself treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust nor thieves can break in and steal – for where your treasure is there is your heart as well.

4. The first was an indirect accusation – but now James lays on a direct accusation – you have been fraudulent defrauding others in your dealings; cheated your workers out of pay they earned

Malachi 3:5 states – “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

Deuteronomy 24:14–15 states “Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy, whether he is a brother Israelite or an alien living in one of your towns. Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise, he may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.

The Old Testament name Lord of Host creates an image God who hears – as well as the Lord Almighty presents a picture of God as God head of Heaven’s armies of angles that

Jewish tradition taught there were two ways to murder – judicially or depravingly. To deprive a person of what is needed for life is essentially slowly murdering then.

Verses 5 and 6 compare the wealthy to oxen to would eat whatever was fed to them not knowing what awaited them. Like turkeys for Thanksgiving that are overfed to plump them up – oxen would be overly amply fed to produce a fatted calf for the sacrifice.

The wealthy have been overeating on wealth and selfish desires, taking advantage and cheating people for their own gain, not knowing the judgement that awaits them.

Back to Lazarus and the rich ruler parable – the rich ruler begs God the ability to go back and warn his brothers or to send Lazarus or an angel to warn his brother not to follow his path. God replied I sent Moses and the prophets, if they don’t listen to them they won’t listen to Lazarus or anyone else.

We are like that – Jesus gave us the Good News, the road to being reunited to Him and the Father – its up to us to believe or not.

He warned us about the condition of our hearts – if we don’t listen to Him we won’t listen to anyone

Development of Patience and Reverence. In persecution and trials we as Christians should demonstrate stamina and respect for God’s name.

II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PATEINCE AND REVERENCE – PATIENCE, PROBLEMS AND PURPOSE—vv. 7–8. Appeal for Stamina –

Trials and sufferings can produce grumbling and complaining can tempt us to give up or retaliate – but James reminds us to be patient –

1. Promise—v. 7. Christ’s coming—be patient.

A. THE PATIENCE

Long suffering is a trait needed to be developed and strengthened by believers –

That produces a stamina that allows us to stay in the race longer

Our farmers here are an excellent example of patience and stamina – they toil the soil, plant the seeds, pray for moisture to feed to seeds – patiently wait and endure until harvest time

They don’t give up the first month it doesn’t rain

They don’t quit when the harvest is only 70% of what they planned for

As Christians we need to have that same patience endurance – stamina.

2. Purpose—v. 8. Patience helps to establish our hearts. Impatience means indifference!

Verse 8 calls us to not only be patient but to establish our hearts for Jesus returns –

Titus 2:12-13 reminds us – training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

This can be difficult but Peter reminds us in 2 Peter 3:8-9 – But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Or Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

B. THE PROBLEMS—v. 9

Grudges and Grumbling could mean two things: envy and hatred.

1. Reason for grudge—jealousy, covetousness.

Grumbling is finding fault and criticizing one another – grumbling and complaining hinders patience and long-suffering – traits we as Christians are called to have

Direct contradiction to the heart condition we are called to have

2. Results of having grudge—displeased God. God must send judgment upon those who have grudges.

Like children fighting in the classroom and throwing paper wads at others when the teacher is out and then act surprised when the teacher returns – we must ask ourselves are we living like His return is imminent or far off?

C. THE PURPOSE—vv. 10–12

1. Prophets—v. 10. The Prophets suffered much for standing for God and righteous things.

OT Prophets were the bullseye or the standard of patience and longsuffering for the Lord without complaining.

Hebrews 11:32-40 states – the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Jeremiah was thrown into a muddy hole of a prison but never complained – in Jeremiah 38:20 he responds to King Zedekiah who threw him in the hole – Obey now the voice of the Lord in what I say to you, and it shall be well with you, and your life shall be spared.

Job was the standard of longsuffering for the Lord – trusting in the Lord for everything.

2. Patience—v. 11. Note Job’s patience (Job 42:10-12).

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold.

12 And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.

An Appeal for a Reverence for God –

3. Promises—v. 12. Say what you mean—mean what you say. Broken promises are lies!

Avoid oaths – simply say what you mean and mean what you say – broken promises are not only lies – they are thus sin

During suffering and trials don’t be quick to promise something that otherwise you are unwilling to fulfill.

God if you do ______________ I promise to do ___________________ - a lot of us have done this – I have – refrain from this

This includes uses the Lord’s name in vain and in profanity – don’t use His name to promise anything

Matthew 12:36 Jesus reminds us – 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

And in Matthew 5:34-37 Jesus teaches and then James reiterates – 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Are you a person – are you a Christian of your word?

Principles

• God hears the prayers of his people as they cry out for justice.

• The fact of Jesus’ return gives Christians the hope of eternal reward.

• The compassion and mercy of the Lord give Christians the stamina to endure.

Applications

• Recognize how wealthy you are, and use your wealth for the glory of God.

• Persevere in obedience.

• In all your actions be true to your word and keep your promises.

What testimony are you producing for the day of judgement?

How are you living out your faith – like do you feel like you can wait because there is still have time to implement what God says or do you have an urgency to implement His word because He is possibly returning tomorrow?

Let us pray!