James 5:1–6 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 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. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
We Hear 4000 sermons a day:
1. Our heart follows your treasure.
Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2. Money is not the problem. The love of it is.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
3. God entrusts different amounts to each
Proverbs 30:8 …Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
4. James Audience Is Not Clear
James 2:6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
THE FOUR SINS OF THE RICH
SIN #1 — HOARDING
James 5:2-3 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded.
1 Timothy 6:6–7 Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
Proverbs 21:20 The wise store up for the future, but the foolish spend whatever they get.
SIN #2 — DEFRAUDING
James 5:4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
God cares about how we got to our success
Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
Not at the cost of your health.
Proverbs 23:4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.
Not at cost of our family
Not at the cost of other people.
Proverbs 16:8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
Not at the cost of your faith.
Seek first the kingdom.
SIN #3 — SELF-INDULGENCE
James 5:5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
SIN #4 — ABUSE OF POWER
James 5:6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
be generous with NO String attached
Proverbs 11:24–25 It is possible to give freely and grow all the richer; the generous person will prosper — whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Rust “testifies against you” (v.3).
Unpaid wages “are crying out” (v.4).
2 Corinthians 8:9 Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
