James: Religion That Works
“The Details”
April 30, 2006
Introduction: We had been looking at the book of James for several weeks before we took a little break for all of our Easter events. Today we want to go back and “put a bow” on things if you will.
I want to refresh your memory a little about what is taking place. James is writing to a group of Christians who have scattered away from Jerusalem due to the persecution being inflicted upon the church. He has written to them about persevering through trials, struggling with temptations, dealing with quarrels among themselves and living out wht they say they believe.
The bottom line for James is that your faith is demonstrated through your actions.
Today we want to look at three detail areas of life that James addresses in chapter 5.
I. Right Attitudes About Money
James has addressed some issues that are facing the church about how they treat those who are rich and how they treat those who are poor. In chapter 2 he points out that we should not treat people differently based on their economic condition. Now in chapter 5 he deals directly with the rich who are oppressing the poor.
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.” James 5:1-6 (NIV)
James is speaking directly to those who are using their economic standing to oppress the poor. He issues a warning that not only will the day come when they will lose their money, but a day will come when it will all be rotted away.
The pursuit of riches and the self-focused life will bring misery.
He notes that it is because of the way they have gone about their gaining and treatment of others that will bring judgment from God.
“You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.”
James 5:6 (NIV)
The money is not the issue. It is what the money has done to them that is the issue.
God has not called us to take a vow of poverty, nor has he guaranteed us that we will have whatever material thing we want. What he has told us is to put our focus on eternal things and not material things.
The writing of James very closely resembles the teaching of Jesus as recorded in the book of Matthew.
"Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:19-21; 24 (NLT)
God desires our heart to be on the eternal matters of life.
Money and the pursuit of it can become a god that entices us to be “double-minded” in our lives.
Paul warns about money in one of the most misquoted verses in the bible.
“For the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” 1 Tim. 6:10 (NLT)
Paul does not say that money is the root of all evil. It is the love of money. It is a heart issue.
The writer of Hebrews gives us very similar warnings.
“Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
The problem in our lives is when we find our validation in our bank account instead of our God.
Money entices people to do all kinds of things that they would never consider. It is an intoxicant and it is a mistress in our walk with God.
A healthy financial approach:
1) See all of your resources as a gift from God.
Yes you worked hard to get what you have. Yes you did your time in lower level work to reach where you stand now. But, who gave you that ability? Who created in you the gifts and talents and intellect to accomplish what you have?
Job was an incredible man of wealth and influence. He had it all in his day. And he was a righteous man. In his wealth he praised God and offered sacrifices on behalf of his children. When God allowed Satan to take away everything he had and to kill all of his children and flocks and servants, Job had an amazing reply.
“At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." Job 1:20-21 (NIV)
Job recognized everything he had was a gift from God.
2) Acknowledge that God will meet all of your needs.
God has not promised us everything we want. But he has promised us everything we need.
“Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” Matthew 6:33 (The Message)
3) Learn to give generously.
One of the best ways not to let money have control of your life is to invest it in others.
Now, before you think that I am making a plea for money or anything, I want you to understand that I am not simply talking about giving your offering to the church. I am not talking about the simple act of obedience in giving to the Lord. I am talking about giving of your time, energy, and finances to the encouragement and support of others.
“The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.” Proverbs 11:24 (The Message)
“If you are generous with the hungry and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out, your lives will begin to glow in the darkness, your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.” Isaiah 58:10 (The Message)
Karen Patterson. The Dallas Morning News, December 23, 2002.
Science hasn’t yet documented whether it is more blessed to give than to receive. But it could be more healthful, new data show. A study of longevity among older couples reports that people who give time and energy to friends and relatives, and emotional support to spouses, are likely to live longer than the folks solely on the receiving end of the equation.
It is not the amount, but the heart that counts.
II. Right Attitudes About Trials
James has been writing to people living under incredible difficulty. They are persecuted, away from their homes and living in a daily struggle to survive. He has some great advice for them that is very important for us.
“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers, do not swear--not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.” James 5:7-12 (NIV)
James cites the example of Job and the other prophets that endured incredible hardship in their lives. The common factor they had together was the love, compassion and presence of God in the midst of their struggle.
The trials of life help us to develop trust in God.
Without the trials we would never have need of God’s deliverance. If you don’t have struggles why do you need to trust the hand of God?
The practical lesson: HANG IN THERE!!!
Our daily walk with Christ is never easy. It is a struggle to conform to his image and to his love instead of the image of this world. But, it is in growing through the difficulties that we can see God form us and shape us into who he desires us to become.
Illustration: I never saw a real need for God until I began to struggle through some of the painful issues of life. Now, without a hope that God will deliver me and that there is a better way, I am not sure I could make it.
Stick with it during the difficult times of life.
III. Right Attitudes About Community
James concludes this letter with a great challenge for us to live in community. It includes lessons on relationships, church authority, and prayer.
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. ” James 5:13-18 (NIV)
There are some great principles in this closing passage.
1) God can be trusted in the good times and the bad.
“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.”
James 5:13 (NIV)
James notes that we should sing praises to God when we are happy and pray when we are troubled. These are heart attitudes that we develop in the midst of our daily routine.
2) God uses church leaders to minister to the body.
“Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:14 (NIV)
James notes that anyone who is sick should confess their sins and have the church leaders pray for them. This is not a hierarchy of spirituality, but is an attitude of humility for us to share our needs and our hearts.
The assumption is that the church leaders are to be godly in heart and mind so that they may lift up the body to God.
In order to receive God’s blessing we must eliminate our pride.
3) Prayer accomplishes what humans cannot.
“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. ” James 5:15-18 (NIV)
The church leaders do not have the power to heal or to forgive sin; but their petition to God on behalf of others carries significance in the kingdom of Christ.
Elijah prayed that the sky would close and no rain would fall so that the people would turn their hearts back toward God. He could not accomplish that on his own, but God could.
4) Commitment to community makes us better.
“My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” James 5:19-20 (NIV)
When we live our lives looking out for one another, we help each other grow into a deeper walk with Christ.
Conclusion: God desires us to look after the details of our lives.
Three things God desires us to know from this passage:
1) Eternal is more important than temporary.
Money and finances are not the currency of the kingdom of God.
2) God is faithful in the midst of our trials.
3) We are better together.
