Confronting the Rich
James 5:1-6
February 1, 2015
We’re working through the book of James.
You know he is addressing inconsistencies in the church.
And tonight he deals with the problems of wealth
THIS MAY BE HIS MOST PASSIONATE POINT
When James approaches the subject on money,
His blood is boiling when he writes it.
Perhaps the second most passionate text in James
Is in chapter four where he calls all those who love money adulteresses.
Last week we listened as he condemned the man
Who was strong-willed and knew he was going to hatch a plan
That would “make a profit”
So it’s easy to recognize that James has issue with
Those who are only seeking to get rich in this life.
And why wouldn’t he?
Wealth certainly wasn’t the ambition of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
Matthew 8:20 “Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Matthew 17:27 “However, so that we do not offend them, go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for you and Me.”
The implication is that Jesus was so poor
He had to borrow money from a fish to pay the tax in His own temple.
Wealth was never the goal.
And so James obviously takes issue with those in the church
Who are obviously preoccupied with money.
James knew the idolatrous temptation that money was,
And he is quick to condemn those who serve it.
Jesus also took issue with those who serve money.
Matthew 6:24-33 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Jesus was very specific as He taught about the dangers of money
And the necessity of keeping it in proper perspective.
The fact is, money can be dangerous.
Now of course money itself is neither good nor evil.
But as Paul said:
1 Timothy 6:9-10 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
And so money and especially the love of it can be dangerous.
And James here begins by pointing out that danger
To those who have an obvious love of it.
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.”
The phrase “Come now” is a phrase
That implies for someone to come to their senses.
It is as though James is saying, “Hey, snap out of it!”
He used the same phrase earlier in 4:13 to get the attention of the person who confidently made plans even though they were obviously foolish to do so.
“Come now” – pay attention – snap out of it.
Dave Ramsey – “If you’re out there maxing out your credit cards to pay for Christmas…STOP IT! You are out of control!”
It is that same rational James is offering here.
“Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.”
YOU ARE IN TROUBLE AND YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IT
Just look at Scripture and see how shocked the rich are to be judged
Luke 16:19-25 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. “And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. “Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. “In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. “And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.”
I’m sure that man did his share of “howling”
Being rich was a picture of loving the world,
And those who did that have a rude awakening coming.
Luke 6:24-25 “But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. “Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.”
Zephaniah 1:18 “Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the LORD’S wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.”
Or take what Asaph learned:
Psalms 73:17-20
“Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.”
Or
Psalms 49:16-20
“Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich, When the glory of his house is increased; For when he dies he will carry nothing away; His glory will not descend after him. Though while he lives he congratulates himself — And though men praise you when you do well for yourself — He shall go to the generation of his fathers; They will never see the light. Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, Is like the beasts that perish.”
And we could go on, but the point is that
Throughout Scripture the rich are not favorably mentioned.
They are set aside for judgment, and most of them didn’t see it coming.
Even Jesus said:
Matthew 19:23-24
“And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
It really doesn’t get much clearer than that does it?
So one must quickly ask the question then, is it wrong to be rich?
Is it wrong to have money?
NO
In fact “being rich” is a relative term.
If someone told you in Spur that they are living in a place that requires a $2000 per month payment – you’d think that was excessive.
I know of a man who makes that exact payment in Midland, TX for a low-grade apartment (because the oil field has inflated prices)
You can’t assign a dollar sign to “rich”, it is a relative term.
Furthermore, having money is not a sin.
In fact
Proverbs 10:22 “It is the blessing of the LORD that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it.”
• We know men like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were rich.
• We know David and Solomon were rich.
• We even see mention of wealthy believers in the New Testament.
• We see people who own land and are selling it, etc.
So being rich is not the problem.
The problem is the wicked handling of wealth.
That is what we are going to look at tonight
James takes issue with those who mishandle weatlh
In particular, let me show you 4 cases
Where being rich is most definitely a problem.
#1 THEY STORED IT NEEDLESSLY
James 5:2-3
James speaks of wealth as it would look in his day.
Today wealth is measured by money and assets
We talk about a person’s “net worth”
Well, in James’ day wealth was measured in three ways.
GARMENTS – GRAIN – GOLD
“riches have rotted” – concept of storing grain without need until it ruined.
“garments have become moth-eaten” – having more clothes than you could care for.
“gold and silver have rusted” – their metals were impure and would rust. They had much unneeded money.
These were people who not only had things,
But they hoarded them, even past the ability to enjoy them.
My dad used to ask people in Canton
“Is any of your money expired?”
WE ARE DEALING WITH INDIVIDUALS
• Who didn’t just make money
• Who apparently didn’t use money
• Who certainly didn’t give money
• They simply hoarded money
This was never God’s intention
When creating the ability for man to acquire wealth.
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Luke 12:16-21 “And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ‘ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE GODLY PURPOSES OF WEALTH?
Provide for families
1 Timothy 5:8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Advance the Kingdom
Luke 16:9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of the wealth of unrighteousness, so that when it fails, they will receive you into the eternal dwellings.”
3 John 7-8 “For they went out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support such men, so that we may be fellow workers with the truth.”
Benevolence
1 John 3:13-16 “Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
The Bible intends for believers to use wealth, not hoard it.
What purpose is there in feeding moths?
And to make matters even worse:
James says, “It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!”
The “last days” is the time between Christ’s death and Christ’s return.
During this time, Christ could literally come any moment.
Why would you spend so much energy hoarding wealth,
When the end could come any second?
It is the picture of a man sitting in the electric chair
Trying to buy lottery tickets.
It doesn’t make sense.
Storing money in this day and time is just as foolish
As saying you will go to such and such a city and make a profit
When you don’t even know what your life will be like tomorrow.
Now I’m not saying you shouldn’t be prepared or a good steward
Or that you should live undisciplined
To the point of someday having to live off of the gov’t or someone else.
I’m just saying be careful
That you don’t become consumed with storing money
So much that you actually store far more than you could ever need.
THAT WOULD BE FOOLISH.
They stored it needlessly
#2 THEY SUSTAINED IT UNRIGHTEOUSLY”
James 5:4
Not only do the wicked rich make money their treasure so as to store it,
They take pains to be able to keep what they have stored.
These rich went even to the extent
Of not paying their workers all that they deserved.
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns. “You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he will not cry against you to the LORD and it become sin in you.”
Proverbs 11:1 “A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, But a just weight is His delight.”
Proverbs 20:10 “Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD.”
Proverbs 20:23 “Differing weights are an abomination to the LORD, And a false scale is not good.”
I think you get the point
God hates the concept of cheating to maintain wealth.
Micah 6:9-16 “The voice of the LORD will call to the city—And it is sound wisdom to fear Your name: “Hear, O tribe. Who has appointed its time? “Is there yet a man in the wicked house, Along with treasures of wickedness And a short measure that is cursed? “Can I justify wicked scales And a bag of deceptive weights? “For the rich men of the city are full of violence, Her residents speak lies, And their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. “So also I will make you sick, striking you down, Desolating you because of your sins. “You will eat, but you will not be satisfied, And your vileness will be in your midst. You will try to remove for safekeeping, But you will not preserve anything, And what you do preserve I will give to the sword. “You will sow but you will not reap. You will tread the olive but will not anoint yourself with oil; And the grapes, but you will not drink wine. “The statutes of Omri And all the works of the house of Ahab are observed; And in their devices you walk. Therefore I will give you up for destruction And your inhabitants for derision, And you will bear the reproach of My people.”
Isaiah 10:1-4 “Woe to those who enact evil statutes And to those who constantly record unjust decisions, So as to deprive the needy of justice And rob the poor of My people of their rights, So that widows may be their spoil And that they may plunder the orphans. Now what will you do in the day of punishment, And in the devastation which will come from afar? To whom will you flee for help? And where will you leave your wealth? Nothing remains but to crouch among the captives Or fall among the slain. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out.”
These were people who wanted to be rich and to be able to store money.
They were so consumed with it that they actually sustained that wealth
By not giving to others what was their due.
• They didn’t pay people they should have paid
• They didn’t support those they should have supported
• They didn’t help those they should have helped
WHAT ARE SOME WAYS WE LIE TO KEEP OUR MONEY?
• “I’m sorry I don’t have any to give”
• “I can’t give because I need what I’ve got”
• How about when you trade in a car?
• What about your taxes?
I’m not saying the government deserves or even needs your money,
But if your heart is such that you would cheat to keep your money,
Then you have a major heart problem.
For it is impossible to love money and God at the same time.
The Bible teaches us to act justly,
Not to love money so much that we would lie to keep it.
NAMELY BECAUSE THAT LYING OFFENDS GOD
“and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Saboath”
In other words, all the poor you have maligned have to do is cry to God,
“Lord of Saboath” = “The Lord of Hosts” (i.e. The General of Heaven’s Army)
Is keeping your money really worth
Irritating the General of the armies of heaven?
They stored it needlessly They sustained it unrighteously
#3 THEY SPENT IT IMMORALLY
James 5:5
Notice why they wanted all that money?
To live only for themselves.
“You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure.”
James already condemned this.
James 4:3-4 “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
This is a great indicator of whether or not
You have an unholy infatuation with money.
WHY DO YOU WANT IT?
Money is NOT a means of joy or contentment in this life.
This is why I always get a little frustrated when I see people buying lottery tickets (unfortunately sometimes it is even members of our church)
It is fueled by the assumption that money would make them happy.
WHY?
• Can you get more of Jesus with your money?
• Can you be filled with the Holy Spirit with your money?
• Can you purchase sanctification with your money?
• Can you understand more of God’s Word with your money?
• Can you reserve a better place in heaven with your money?
• Can you obtain a spiritual gift with your money?
No, in fact I can share with you a rebuke that was given
To a man who thought he could.
Acts 8:18-23 “Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! “You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God. “Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. “For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”
The point is that money was not given
As a means for you to obtain happiness.
MONEY IS A MEANS OF MINISTERING TO OTHERS
Ephesians 4:28 “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.”
We are called to help others, not gratify ourselves.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 “Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;”
The Bible teaches that wealth is provided by God as a tool of ministry,
Not as a means of comfort and security.
James goes on to say, “You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.”
It is the picture of a person
Who would spend everything they have on themselves.
“you have fattened your hearts”
But the problem is that it is “the day of slaughter”
And all you have done is made yourself the most appealing to destroy.
Just like the calf that hoards all the grain,
Come slaughter time, he is the first one picked.
Wealth is not for you, it is for use.
They stored it needlessly They sustained it unrighteously They spent it immorally
#4 THEY STOLE IT RUTHLESSLY
James 5:6
That means not only did they lie and cheat to KEEP their money,
They lied and cheated to MAKE their money.
They had no problem making money by immoral, or dishonest means,
Even at the ruin of another.
“You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.”
The implication is that they would take a bribe to get rich.
• They would sell others out to make a buck.
• They are like a politician who votes pro-choice because a lobbyist lines his pockets.
• They are like a voter who votes pro-choice because the candidate promises to make life more prosperous for them.
It is a man who wanted money and would sell out others to get it.
James 4:2 “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.”
When John came preaching, and the people wanted to repent,
The first things John told them to change
Had to do with the way they handled wealth.
Luke 3:7-14 “So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? “Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. “Indeed the axe is already laid at the root of the trees; so every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what shall we do?” And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.” And some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what you have been ordered to.” Some soldiers were questioning him, saying, “And what about us, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”
• To the crowds he said, “Don’t store it needlessly”
• To the tax collectors he said, “Don’t sustain it unrighteously”
• To the Centurions he said, “Don’t steal it maliciously”
• He also told them “be content” or “Don’t spend it immorally”
How we handle wealth
Can be a major determining factor to reveal if we truly have saving faith.
Since Jesus said, “You cannot serve God and wealth”
We know that if we are serving wealth, then we are not serving God.
So what should we do?
1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
Proverbs 30:7-9 “Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.”
