James 5:1-6 Series

James: Practical Faith 

James 5:1-6

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church 

01-12-2025

Intro

In 1923 a group of the world’s most successful financiers met at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. One was the president of the largest independent steel company; the greatest wheat speculator; the president of the New York Stock Exchange; a member of the President’s Cabinet; the greatest bear in Wall Street; the president of the Bank of International Settlement; & the head of the world’s greatest monopoly.

Collectively, these tycoons controlled more wealth than there was in the U.S.Treasury, and for years newspapers and magazines had been printing their success stories and urging the youth of the nation to follow their examples.

Stay tuned at the end of the sermon for the rest of the story.

Starting in chapter 5, James is going to go full Old Testament prophet on the wealthy people in their culture that hoard their riches, exploit the poor, and, ultimately, are headed toward destruction.

Turn with me to James 5.

Prayer

Three Questions

Before we begin, let’s consider three questions. James is calling out the unbelieving wealthy. But if they are not believers, they probably wouldn’t be in church to hear these words read anyway. So why does he address people that aren’t even there?

James is operating as a prophet in these verses. Just like the prophets of old would condemn other nations of idolatry and godlessness, James speaks truth, knowing that these words would be shared throughout the culture.

But he also uses these words as a warning to the believers that are listening - be careful! Money has the power to destroy you.

The second question we need to address? Is it sinful to be “rich?”

The Biblical answer is no. It is not sinful to be wealthy.

Money is not the root of all evil:

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (I Tim 6:10)

In chapter one, James makes the case that the believer in humble circumstances received spiritual benefits and that riches require humility.

In chapter 2, he warns against preferential treatment in the church based on wealth.

In chapter 4, he warns against being seduced by the world and a desire for more.

Randy Alcorn writes:

“When earth becomes our heaven - when we see God’s blessings as primarily immediate and temporal - we lose sight of who we are, why we are here, and what awaits us beyond the horizons of this world.”

When Jesus met a young man with a lot of resources, He saw that his wealth had taken over his soul and told him to sell everything and follow Him. The young man went away sad and just told His disciples:

“Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

It’s not how much money you have but how much power does your money have over you? Money is a fantastic servant but a harsh master.

God gives us financial resources in order to meet our basic needs, to enjoy life, and to be generous to others.

You may be thinking, “Hey Jeff, this sermon really doesn’t apply to me. If money talks, then all it ever says to me is goodbye!”

25% of people admit that money is the main thing they think about.

90% of people report that money, or the lack of it, impacts their stress levels.

But we need to remember how incredibly blessed we are in our country. If you have something over your head tonight and if you have something to eat for today, you are richer than 95% of the world. many of which live on less than two dollars a day.

We can begin to think that the answer to all our problems would be more money.

William “Bud” Post won 16 million dollars in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988. Within a year, he was one million dollars in debt.

A former girlfriend successful sued him for a third of the winnings. His brother was arrested for hiring a hitman to try to kill him. He put money into the family business which failed. He spent time in jail for firing a gun over the head of a bill collector.

“I wish it had never happened…it was a total nightmare…I was much happier when I was broke,” Post said.

70% of lottery winners go broke within five years.