Getting Rich, Being Rich - James 4v13-5v6

It's to chapter 5, verse 6.

That starts on page 1215 of the Red Church Bible.

That's James, chapter 4, verse 13.

James 4:13

Now listen, you who say,

Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city,

spend a year there, carry on business and make money.

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

What is your life?

You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Instead, you ought to say,

If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.

As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes.

All such boasting is evil.

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it,

it is sin for them.

Now listen, you rich people.

Weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on 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 workers 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 the innocent one who was not opposing you.

Thank you, Sam.

Well, we've been looking at this short letter of James.

If you've missed any of the talks along the way from different people,

then you can just check out the church website

and you can catch up on any of the talks there.

Let's pray as we ask for God's help.

My dear brothers and sisters,

take note of this.

Everyone should be quick to listen.

Slow to speak

and slow to become angry.

Father, help us

to listen clearly to your word,

to your truth.

Not to listen to our own thoughts and imaginations,

but to listen clearly to what you are saying to us

through your word.

May it penetrate deep into our hearts

and cause us to run to our Redeemer,

the Lord Jesus Christ.

For your glory we ask these things.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, one of the most beautiful things about church

is diversity.

This is what our welcome brochure says.

If you haven't got the term program,

you can get it on your way out.

But here's what it says.

We are a diverse group of people

of different backgrounds and ages.

Church is the people,

not the building.

And God's people are a family.

Brothers and sisters,

united through a common faith in Jesus.

You are very welcome to join with us.

Now, through the gospel,

people from different kinds of backgrounds

are united together.

And it's wonderful to see that in this church,

in this gathering,

different nationalities are here.

People speak different languages.

We have different cultures,

different experiences.

And through our faith in Christ,

we are united together as one.

But diversity also has the potential

to cause division, doesn't it?

The very fact that I'm different to you

and you're different to me

means that there will be times

we struggle to relate to each other.

One area of diversity that can cause division

is our economic status.

The haves and the have-nots.

Or as James has been teaching

through his letter,

the rich and the poor.

And as we read through James,

if you were to read through it briefly and quickly,

you will see that there's a problem.

The rich are looking down on the poor.

And the poor are grumbling about the rich.

And all of this has resulted in fights and quarrels.

Division,

if you remember from last week,

chapter 4, verse 1.

What causes the fights and quarrels among you?

Well, don't they come from your own desires

that battle within you?

You desire,

but you do not have.

So you kill,

you covet,

but you cannot get what you want.

So you quarrel and fight.

More than anything else,

our economic status has the potential

to cause great division.

So James has something very important to say to us.

Look at chapter 4, verse 13.

Now listen.

Pay attention.

Listen.

You who say,

today or tomorrow,

we will go to this or that city,

spend a year there,

carry on business,

and make money.

Or look at chapter 5, verse 1.

Now listen.

Pay attention.

Listen.

Listen.

Listen.

You rich people,

weep and wail because of the misery

that is coming on you.

Listen.

You who desire wealth.

Listen.

You who have wealth.

You see, the reality is,

in a church like ours,

as in any church, I guess,

there are those who have more,

and there will be those who have less.

Our economic status is different.

There are people who are employed or unemployed.

People who own their house.

Others rent their house.

Some have two cars.

Others have no car.

Some can afford holidays away.

Some have no holidays away.

Some are in their nice new clothes.

Some come in the same old clothes.

Those who don't have,

well, they can be bitter and want more.

And those who do have,

can be selfish and not give.

But here's the issue for all of us, I think,

as we look at this text this morning.

There is no sin in having wealth

or wanting to make money.

There's nothing wrong with wealth.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to make money.

It's how we acquire the wealth.

And it's the way in which we use it

that can be sinful.

How we get it and how we use it,

that is what can be sinful.

So this morning, as we look at this text together,

let's check our heart attitude

as we look at these two groups.

Those who desire wealth

and those who have wealth.

So first,

the desire for money.

Those who want wealth.

Chapter 4, verse 13.

Now listen.

Listen.

Listen.

You who say.

Today or tomorrow,

we'll go to this or that city,

spend a year there,

carry on business,

and make money.

Now times may have changed.

We may be 2,000 years on

from the time James wrote this.

But really,

our human desires have not.

We want to make money.

We always want more money.

In fact,

it can control our whole life.

So,

our life goes something like this.

Our plans go,

I'll go to college.

I'm going to get a qualification.

Then I'm going to get myself a job.

Work for a few years.

Get some experience.

Then I'm going to move to London

or move to New York.

You can make great money

in these great big cities.

Then I'm going to come home

and, well,

I'll start up my own business

and the sky's the limit.

Or perhaps maybe you're a little bit older

and you're thinking,

well,

I've been working a while.

I need to do some more training,

upskill,

and get a better salary.

I'll get my mortgage paid off early,

cash in my shares,

move into a bigger house,

start drawing on my pension,

and,

what are your plans

for making money?

Well,

there's nothing wrong

with planning.

Nothing wrong

with making money.

It's wise and responsible.

In fact,

the scriptures warn

against those

who are lazy

and don't plan.

Listen to this

from Proverbs 10,

Proverbs 10:4

verse 4.

Lazy hands

make for poverty,

but diligent hands

bring wealth.

Here's another one,

Proverbs 21,

Proverbs 21:4

verse 4.

The plans of the diligent

lead to profit,

as surely as haste

leads to poverty.

You see,

it's good to plan out

and think about

how we are making money.

We need money to live.

We need money to buy things.

It's not wrong.

But,

if the desire for wealth,

if making money

becomes my one priority,

then we need to wake up.

Look at what James

has to say to us.

First,

we do not control the future.

Look at verse 14.

Why?

You do not even know

what will happen

tomorrow.

What are your plans

for making money tomorrow?

Well,

tomorrow,

you might wake up

with a pain in your head

and discover

you have a cancerous tumour.

Tomorrow,

your boss may tell you

that they need to make cuts

and, well,

you've been let go.

Tomorrow,

the housing market

may take a dive

and you'll discover

that you're living

with negative equity

and you can't pay off

your mortgage.

You're a fool

if you think

you know

what is going to happen

tomorrow

or that your plans

are never going

to be interrupted.

tomorrow,

your dreams

and desires

for wealth

can be shattered

in a moment.

We do not

control

the future.

And second,

we do not live

forever.

Look at the rest

of verse 14.

What is your life?

How do you think

about your life?

Well,

here's the answer.

You are a mist

that appears

for a little while

and then

vanishes.

I was reminded

of this again

as I listened

to the news

this week.

Did you see

what happened?

Those two young

athletic lads,

their lives

and careers

before them

take a swim

on a sunny day

in a quarry

and both drown.

Their life

snapped out.

A young father

providing

for seven

of his children

on the way

to the beach

turns a corner,

hits a tractor

and tragically

dies.

Or the innocent

loving grandfather

who goes off

to the gym

early one morning

and gets shot

in some other

gang-related attack.

Well,

we might escape

those things.

We might live

until we're 70,

80.

Who knows,

with medicine

today,

we might even

reach 90.

We may go

through life

enjoying great

health,

but sooner

or later

we will all

die.

Our plans

to make money,

our hopes

to enjoy

our wealth

will disappear

like a puff

of smoke.

End of verse 14,

you are a mist.

You're just

a vapor

that appears

for a little

while

and then

vanishes.

We do not

control the future.

We do not

live

forever.

So,

we need to

live with

God's

priorities

in mind.

Verse 15,

instead,

we ought

to say,

if it is

the Lord's

will,

we will

live

and do

this

or that.

Instead

of making

arrogant

statements

of what

I will do

and where

I will live

and when

I'm going

to move

and how

much I'm

going to

make in

life,

I humbly

acknowledge

that my

life is

in the

sovereign

hands

of my

creator

God,

the God

who gives

me life,

the God

who is

giving you

the breath

that you

breathe right

now,

the God

who orders

my life,

who rules

my life,

the God

who,

when he

decides,

will take

my life.

I am

not in

control of

my destiny.

I do

not live

on this

earth

forever.

And to

live any

other kind

of way,

well that's

to put

myself in

the place

of God.

Look at

verse 16.

As it

is,

you boast

in your

arrogant

schemes.

Of all

the things

we're going

to do

and all

the ways

we're going

to make

money,

all such

boasting

is evil.

If our

desire for

wealth,

if our

plans to

make money

is our

priority,

if my

sole goal

in life

is just

to be

rich,

it's an

evil

boasting.

It's

saying,

my will

be done,

my

kingdom

come.

Remember

what the

apostle Paul

reminded

Timothy,

and well,

he reminds

us through

God's

word.

For the

love of

money,

not money,

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.

You see,

if I am a

Christian,

if I am

seeking to

follow the

Lord Jesus,

then I

should be

seeking God's

will,

God's

desires.

What is

God's

heartbeat?

Not what

do I

want.

Verse 17,

if anyone

then knows

the good

they ought

to do

and doesn't

do it,

it is sin

for them.

If you

know what

God's

will is,

what God's

word says,

and you

don't do

it,

and you

live your

own desires

about making

your own

plans of

how you're

going to

make money,

well,

that is

sin.

If I

am so

eager for

riches,

so busy

at work

that I

neglect time

with my

wife and

kids,

it's

sinful.

If I

desire

wealth so

much that

I haven't

got time

to meet

with God's

people,

it's

sinful.

If I'm

so busy

and so

preoccupied

about thinking

about money

and what

money I'm

going to

lose and

how I'm

going to

make ground

with it,

if I'm

so preoccupied

I haven't

got time

to listen

to God's

word or

talk to

God,

it's

sinful.

When the

desires for

wealth control

us and

consume us,

it's making

money our

God.

And James

is saying

to us,

we need

to change

our

priorities

and

quickly.

Verse

15,

instead we

ought to

say,

if it is

the Lord's

will,

we will

live and

do this

or that.

What does

God desire

of my

life?

So the

desire for

money,

those who

want

wealth.

But then

he moves

on to

talk about

the danger

of

riches,

those who

have

wealth.

Look at

chapter 5

verse 1.

Now

listen,

listen,

you rich

people,

weep and

wail because

of the

misery that

is coming

on you.

What sobering

words to be

reading.

If riches

is our

goal and

riches is

what we

get,

then in

a sense

that's all

we're going

to get.

Our

financial and

material

resources

will be

our

earthly

and

temporary

reward

and that

will be

it.

Rather than

eternal

riches,

rather than

enjoying the

beauty and

the fullness

of God's

eternal

kingdom,

we will

live for

an eternity

without

Christ.

That's

behind these

words here

in verse 1.

Weep and

wail.

It's the

one who's

standing before

God's

judgment with

nothing to

offer,

only a

wasted life

of living

for self.

You see,

what we

think about

wealth and

how we

use the

wealth that

God has

given to

us has

eternal

consequences.

wealth.

And James

is warning

those who

have wealth,

and by the

way, that's

all of us,

he's asking

us, are we

guilty of

misusing the

wealth that

God has

given us?

Well, let's

have a look,

shall we?

Let's see

and examine

how we are

using our

wealth.

first, am

I a

wasteful

hoarder?

I'm sure

you've seen

the TV

programs,

hoarders.

They haven't

room to

move in

their house

with the

pile of

stuff they

have

everywhere.

Well, here's

hoarders for

you, verse

2.

Your wealth

has rotted

and moths

have eaten

your clothes.

Your gold

and silver

are corroded.

The corrosion

will testify

against you

and eat

your flesh

like fire.

You have

hoarded

wealth

in the

last days.

I wonder

if someone

were to go

through your

house,

through your

possessions,

just free

reign to

rummage and

root,

what would

they find?

Designer

clothes in

your wardrobe

that you've

bought but

never wore?

The latest

techno gadget

that's still

in an

unopened

box?

Maybe

unused

furniture

that sits

collecting dust

in the attic?

Well, we're

all guilty,

aren't we?

We are, by

nature,

wasteful

hoarders.

We buy

things we

don't need.

We store

stuff we

never use.

We accumulate

books that

are not

read,

toys for

our children

that never

get played

with,

fitness

machines we

never use,

power tools

that never

get plugged

in.

Yes, I

buy those

bargains in

Aldi too.

There's

someone else

who does

too, or

somebody.

Just because

we can.

I've got

the money,

so I

spend the

money.

Why not?

I've earned

it, I've

worked for

it, it's

mine to

do as I

please.

All this

wasteful

hoarding

is actually

evidence against

us.

Look at the

end of

verse 3.

Their

corrosion

will testify

against you

and eat

your flesh

like fire.

it will

be evidence

that condemns

us in

judgment.

What have

we done

with all

that hoarding?

Well, here's

another one.

If that

wasn't

uncomfortable

enough for

us, what

about this?

Greedy

oppression.

Verse 4.

Look,

the wages

you fail to

pay the

workers who

mowed your

fields are

crying out

against you.

If you're

an employer,

do you

pay your

employees

fairly and

promptly?

We don't

need to

own a

company.

When someone

comes to

do work in

your house

or you

need to

have your

car fixed,

do you

pay them

everything

that should

be paid

and ought

to be

paid?

And if

they happen

to under

charge you

or they've

missed

something,

do you

remind them

and say,

actually,

I should

be paying

you a bit

more?

Or do you

just keep

quiet and

go,

saved a few

more pennies

there?

Of course,

we never

like to

think of

ourselves

as greedy

oppressors.

That's the

corporate world,

isn't it?

Well,

think about

the food

we buy

or the

fashion

labels we

wear.

Coffee and

bananas have

fair trade

stickers on

them for a

reason.

You see,

when we

opt for a

cheaper

coffee,

well,

we're

exploiting

the producer.

We're happy

to get it

for 50

cents less

without a

single thought

of a farmer

who only gets

two dollars

a day.

Or think

about the

clothes that

we're wearing.

maybe wearing

right now.

Designer

clothes,

fashion

labels.

We can

pay 100

euros for

a pair

of shoes,

150 for

a top,

no bother.

But think

of the

exploitation

that takes

place in

the sweat

jobs that

produce them.

If we

continue to

buy from

companies that

use child

labour,

their cries

will sound

our

judgment.

Look at

the end of

verse 4.

the cries

of the

harvesters

have reached

the ears

of the

Lord

Almighty.

When we

misuse

our money

for our

own self,

well,

the cries

are crying

out.

Verse 6.

You have

condemned

and murdered

the innocent

one who

is not

opposing you.

You say,

just because

of things I

buy,

I haven't

killed

anyone.

man.

Well,

maybe not

directly,

but indirectly,

the way we

use our

money,

the knock-on

effects it

has down

the line,

poor working

conditions,

means that

people do

die.

What does

these words

have to say

to us who

live in

our affluent

West?

wasteful

hoarders,

greedy

oppressors,

selfish

extravagance.

Verse 5.

You have

lived on

earth in

luxury and

self-indulgence.

You have

fattened

yourselves in

the day of

slaughter.

While we

indulge

ourselves and

fatten

ourselves up

with things

we don't

need to

eat,

others die.

We spend

what we

have on

luxuries,

not

necessities.

We justify

our wants

while ignoring

others'

needs.

things.

Well, let

me share

with you

something

personal,

something that

I'm ashamed

of,

something that

is sinful.

When I

was in

Ghana

recently,

I bought

this small

wooden

carving as

a gift.

Clearly,

the lady who

was selling

it didn't

have much

money.

Obviously,

she was in

great need.

nevertheless,

I asked how

much it

was,

and then I

immediately

offered less.

I walked

away very

proud that

I had

haggled the

price down.

When I

got home,

I discovered

that during

my trip I

had lost

a 50

euro note.

It annoyed

me for

days.

I wondered

where I

had lost

it,

going through

all the

different

places.

Could it

have been

here,

could it

have been

there,

I searched

my bags

over and

over again,

I checked

my money

belt at

least five

times,

turned it

inside out,

no 50

euro note.

I was

desperately

concerned

for my

money that

I had

lost.

And then I

realised that

I had not

given that

poor lady

a second

thought.

I am

guilty

of selfish

extravagance,

greedy

greedy

oppression,

wasteful

hoarding.

James

is serious

in his

warning to

those who

are rich,

to those

who have

wealth.

Craig

Blomberg,

an author,

writer,

drives the

point home.

Follow on

the screen.

this is what

he says,

if a person

claims to

be a

Christian,

is aware

of the

acute

physical

needs of

desperately

poor

believers

at home

or abroad,

is in

any position

to help,

but never

does a

single thing

except to

wish them

well,

that person's

inaction

disproves

his or

her

profession

of

faith.

Challenging,

eh?

True

faith,

you see,

is seen

by generous

giving,

not wasteful

hoarding.

In

seeking

justice,

not greedy

oppression.

Through

self-sacrifice,

not selfish

extravagance.

You see,

when it

comes to

giving of

all the

resources

and the

financial

wealth

we have,

when it

comes to

giving and

spending,

the question

should be

this,

and follow

this clearly,

the question

should be,

how much

can I

spend,

not how

much

should I

spend,

or should

I give

rather?

In other

words,

what can

I spend

out of

my giving?

Because

everything

that I

have has

been given

by God,

belongs to

him,

it's not

mine,

so I

need to

ask,

what can I

spend out

of my

giving?

Once

again,

as we

look into

God's word,

as James

1 reminds

us,

it's like

looking into

a mirror,

it reflects

back on

us,

revealing

us what

our hearts

are really

like,

and showing

us our

desperate

need of

Christ.

So the

desire for

money,

the danger

of riches,

which leads

us to

something

encouraging

for us

all,

that the

poor and

rich,

we all

need

Christ.

You see,

whatever

economic

status we

may think

we are

in,

we all

need

Christ.

Here's

what James

says to

those who

desire

wealth,

and those

who have

wealth,

those who

would say,

I need

money,

and those

who say,

well,

no,

I have

money.

He's

already

told us

about it.

Go back

to chapter

1,

verse 9

and 10.

James

James 1:9

chapter 1,

verses 9

and 10.

Believers

in humble

circumstances,

those who

don't have,

those who

struggle,

financially,

believers

in humble

circumstances

ought to

take pride

in their

high position.

But the

rich,

those who

have,

well,

they should

take pride

in their

humiliation,

since they

will pass

away like

a wild

flower.

Look,

he's saying,

if your

economic

status means

you don't

have much,

or that

you have

needs and

you struggle

to pay

your rent

or you

struggle to

meet your

bills.

Verse 9,

believers in

humble

circumstances,

well,

take pride

in your

high position.

He's saying,

remember the

gospel.

Remember what

Christ has

done for

you.

you may

financially

struggle,

but through

Christ and

in Christ

and through

faith in

him,

you are

spiritually

rich.

You don't

need to have

great wealth

to make it

in life,

to be

someone.

In

Christ you

have made

it,

you are

someone.

You belong

to Christ.

You are

his.

and through

him you

have received

great blessing,

forgiveness of

all of your

sins,

the presence

of the

Holy Spirit,

his peace

upon you,

and an

eternal

inheritance,

the kingdom

of heaven

itself,

the new

heavens and

the new

earth that

can never

be taken

from you.

believers in

humble

circumstances,

take pride

in your

high position.

Don't

grumble at

the rich

and make

money your

goal and

your priority.

Rejoice

that you

have every

spiritual

blessing in

Christ.

Christ.

If you

are in

Christ,

you will

never be

lost,

but you

are his

forever.

On the

other hand,

if your

economic status

means that

you have

plenty and

well you're

in great

wealth,

look at

verse 10.

But the

rich should

take pride

in their

humiliation,

since they

will pass

away like

a wild

flower.

Again,

he's

directing us

saying,

remember the

gospel,

remember

Christ.

You may

buy all

you want,

but you

cannot buy

what you

most need,

God's

grace and

mercy.

You may

have savings

and wealth

for your

entire life,

but remember

this,

verse 10,

you will

fade away

like a

flower.

You can

have shares

and pensions,

but without

Christ's

intervention in

your life,

you are

spiritually

bankrupt.

You have

nothing.

You are

nothing without

Christ.

Don't pride

yourself in

how well you've

done financially,

about how

secure your

future is.

Humbly see

what great

needs you have

spiritually.

Whoever we

are,

whatever our

economic

status may

be,

we all

need

Christ.

And when

we come

to Christ,

the low

are lifted

up, the

higher

taken down

and,

well, we

become one.

There's an

equal playing

field before

the cross.

Brothers and

sisters in

Christ united

together, not

one above the

other, not

one thinking

better than

the other.

With Christ,

I can say,

I have

everything.

Without

Christ, I

have nothing.

everything.

How do you

think about

your economic

status today?

Are you

desiring

money?

Wanting

wealth?

Or are you

in danger for

the riches you

have and your

misuse of

wealth?

We all

need to go

to Christ,

for with

Christ I

have everything.

nothing.

Without

Christ, I

have nothing.

Let's pray

together.

Let's pray.

You can look on

the screen for

our prayer as

we reflect

on what we've

been thinking

through.

Keep

falsehood and

lies far

from me.

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.

Father, would

you keep us

running to

Christ, for

he is our

all and our

everything, only

he can truly

satisfy.

And would you

help us in

our plenty

to give to

those who are

most in

need,

generously,

sacrificiously,

lovingly,

just as

you poured

out your

love to

us.

Help us,

Father, we

pray, in

Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, if

we believe

Christ is

everything, we

will want to

sing this

song, Christ

is my

reward and

all of my

devotion.