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[00:00] We are we have come to chapter five in James and if you don't know James only has five chapters
[00:05] So we're in the end game now is you know as a Marvel would say
[00:12] We're in the end game now. We begin the last chapter of James chapter five
[00:17] So I think we have three more weeks maybe of James. I forget what the schedule looks like for something like that
[00:21] You know and as we said last week as I've said the last couple weeks I knew we're coming to an end
[00:27] You know it's been it's been tough. I mean the whole book is tough man. It costs a couple weeks
[00:32] It's just seem like it's even been like tougher than normal
[00:35] And then obviously when you talk about your life is just a mist you know it gets a little bit like wow okay?
[00:40] I'm excited
[00:42] you know so we come to chapter five and
[00:45] I feel like like for me personally there's been some things that I have got has really shown
[00:52] You know in my own life like things that I really you know I never took serious before
[00:57] And now it's like oh, okay. I got all right lord. I got I know you're showing me this
[01:02] I need help on this because I am really failing tongue being one of them. You know
[01:07] Whirly wisdom compared to God wisdom you know some of that stuff
[01:11] Always sometimes just because it seeps in right we were living the world so we it seeps in the world wisdom and
[01:18] Conviction and then say God has because everybody right struggles
[01:22] We all are sinners saved by grace and so we all struggle with things that so hopefully God is working in your heart
[01:26] You're showing you some things
[01:28] And it has an impact on your life
[01:31] but I'll just say this though if it's had no impact and you leave here every Sunday or whatever and
[01:36] Yeah, maybe you don't even remember what was talked about or you're not convicted about all at all
[01:41] You know sometimes that's a good sign and James is gonna talk about the wanderer at the end of chapter five sometimes
[01:47] It's a good
[01:48] Kind of a case study for people who are wandering
[01:51] They've left kind of Lord and so like conviction and things that happen you just can put it out doesn't matter
[01:56] You can just ignore everything that the Bible saying and you're like
[01:59] You know you put your faith in Christ you remember that you remember doing that and you live for a little bit
[02:03] But now you're far from him or you feel far from in the things of the word the word of God is having no impact
[02:08] on your life and
[02:10] I would just say you know if that's you
[02:12] You come here today, and it's just kind of you just kind of going through the motions
[02:16] We don't obviously that's not a good place to be right and we've all been there. I think
[02:22] Just not a good place to be and so I just pray in our prayer for you. Is that you would come back to Jesus, right?
[02:29] Oh, what's great about him is that he never leaves so you remember the story of the product was on right?
[02:34] He goes out and meets his son runs out and meets him even though he had lived a life of sin and just terrible things
[02:41] And Jesus does the same for us and so you find yourself just kind of going through the motions on these Sundays or life
[02:47] spiritually
[02:50] Man, just go back and say Lord. I know that I am really struggling
[02:53] You know and better even more not better, but more than that is to tell somebody else
[02:58] Right so they can just pray for you that they can love you they can encourage you in that you know
[03:03] I'm I often wonder where I would be without the friends who have done that for me
[03:07] And said hey ray, I noticed that you know you seem to be struggling or you know are you okay spiritually? Where are you spiritually?
[03:15] and those moments of those moments of
[03:20] Where God convicts can be difficult, but they're important
[03:23] Now I will say this James chapter 5 1 through 6
[03:27] Reads like an Old Testament prophet
[03:30] Right he is going to lace
[03:34] Into people he is gonna hammer some people more harshly than we've probably heard in James
[03:41] That's the bad news the good news is he's not really speaking to Christians
[03:48] Yeah, he's speaking to unbelievers
[03:50] And so you know you're thinking okay, well at least if you're a Christian that he's not really speaking to me
[03:56] But back to the I guess it's still good news is that there's still lessons in that for us
[04:01] Even though he's speaking to the unsaved. He's speaking to the unsaved rich. It really was speaking to those wealthy
[04:07] People who don't have not put their faith in Christ or anything like that, and they're living a life
[04:13] That is you know not good, and they're hurting people in the process
[04:17] And so you know I'm gonna read one through six, and then we'll kind of take it as we always do verse-by-verse
[04:23] I
[04:26] Think it's interesting though right because you have James is
[04:30] He understands that we have a natural tendency even Christians or other people to envy the rich
[04:38] Back in the 80s you remember and that you all you some of us. I mean you remember the show lifestyles are rich and famous, right?
[04:45] Yeah, yeah, right just a show on the lifestyles of the rich and famous, and you're watching be like wow all right
[04:52] Wow, that's all you can say right cuz you can't even like fathom
[04:55] There's some of the stuff that they had you know and some of the things they were doing
[04:57] And so James understands that we are also like kind of drawn to that
[05:04] And when you think about worldly wisdom
[05:07] We all have this desire to want to be rich
[05:11] Financially
[05:15] um
[05:16] yet
[05:18] Jesus and James and Paul and others have had and have things to say about that
[05:24] And about us this desire for us to be rich. You know financially
[05:30] and in possessions
[05:32] But James is gonna talk about it, and then he's gonna talk about the judgment awaiting them and
[05:42] Though you do not fall if you're a Christian you did not fall in the judgment section because Christ already paid for your sins
[05:47] You know so the judgment doesn't you know isn't for you. That's great because you know doesn't sound great when you read it
[05:54] There's still great lessons in here for us because we are sinners
[05:58] And we have a desire for more money and more things and more but then and all that stuff
[06:03] so
[06:06] Let me read and then we'll kind of break it down and go from there
[06:11] I do want to say this
[06:13] Sometimes when people preach in my message like this on the rich they're saying that money is bad right they're saying money is the issue
[06:21] God never says the money is the issue
[06:25] Is the love of money is the issue?
[06:27] When we put the money as an idol in our life or possessions at idle in our life as idols in our lives
[06:34] Then it's a problem when we want to take that stuff
[06:36] And that's what we're gonna look at when we want to take the things that God has like gifts that God has given us
[06:41] And you know put them above God
[06:43] And then maybe treat people differently because we might have something else all that stuff is messed up and sin, right?
[06:51] And as I said, I think our society is built upon this idea of wealth and power
[06:58] And yet
[07:05] Many Christians have bought into the perception that wealth having wealth equals success and happiness
[07:10] And many Christians are just not content with what they have right constantly seeking to get more
[07:19] And I would just say if that's you because that's kind of a lot of us at times at least at some point in our life
[07:25] Probably you know really pay attention to what James is saying here
[07:29] You know really pay attention
[07:31] Let's read and then we'll read the whole the whole verse six verses and then go from there
[07:35] So it's verse chapter 5 verse 1 and James says now come now you rich
[07:40] Weep and how for the miseries that are coming upon you
[07:43] Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten your gold and silver have corroded and the corrosion will be evidence against you
[07:51] And we'll eat your flesh like fire
[07:53] Pretty good so far. You have laid up treasure in the last days
[07:57] Behold the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields which you kept back by fraud
[08:01] Are crying out against you and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the lord of hosts
[08:07] You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter
[08:12] You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you
[08:17] You know like yikes
[08:20] He starts off by telling the rich all right weeping how
[08:26] Right, I mean look at that come now you rich weep and howl
[08:30] For the miseries that are coming upon you
[08:33] I just think about that
[08:36] James is telling these people that they should be weeping and howling now. That is the idea here
[08:44] Is not good
[08:46] Right. He's using extreme language because he wants you to understand
[08:49] That this isn't good
[08:53] I think part of it is that some people might think oh this because the rich are happy and he doesn't want them to be
[08:58] Happy he wants them to mourn and he wants them to to weep and howl, but I don't think that's the case
[09:02] I think what the case is here is that he's talking about the coming judgment
[09:06] Weeping howl because of what's coming for you because of what you've done
[09:09] Mourn because
[09:15] Of what awaits you in final judgment
[09:17] All right, they're focused on
[09:20] the materialistic
[09:22] places them
[09:24] Literally in terrifying danger
[09:26] Again the focus again is on
[09:31] Is on those who gain their riches and their wealth in an ungodly manner?
[09:36] Okay
[09:38] And they make it the center of their lives and they fail to use their wealth
[09:42] And their power or whatever they have to benefit others
[09:45] And that's where james is coming from here
[09:47] By the way, just so I I want you guys to know when I said he's speaking to unbelievers
[09:50] You said well in the beginning you said he in the very beginning he said he's speaking to the you know
[09:55] The 12 tribes and they were believers and he did
[09:58] But he kind of he kind of jumps in here and wants to speak to the unsaved and you say well
[10:03] How do you know that well first of all god is not going to we don't fall under judgment for those who are in christ?
[10:08] So right off the bat, he's talking about judgment against. I mean harsh judgment
[10:12] He's not speaking to christians
[10:14] But if you can look at verse even verse to go down a little bit and you look at verse, um
[10:19] Um, what is it? Oh, yeah verse 12. He says but above all my brothers, right?
[10:23] We saw that a lot where he calls the people that he's speaking to brothers and sisters, right?
[10:28] He doesn't do that here. He just says you rich
[10:31] We've been how for the miseries that are coming upon you
[10:34] Your riches have rotted and your garment garments are moth eaten your gold and silver have corroded and the corrosion will be evidence against you
[10:41] And so what we see is that james is right off the bat wants people to understand
[10:47] That
[10:49] Not using your wealth in the way that should be or not or trying to gain wealth and not in in not ways that god has
[10:57] Said is going to result in serious judgment
[11:00] And when you think about this idea of howling
[11:04] Think of screaming in pain saying no
[11:08] Please only yelling and screaming
[11:11] Because that is what will happen for them on the judgment day
[11:16] They have this this terrible right pain knowing that they're in their final judgment that there's no more chances
[11:22] That christ is not to be found at this point it's too late for them
[11:29] And if you really think about this
[11:35] Right, there's like a horror involved with this right standing before a holy god and understanding the judgment that is coming
[11:42] from
[11:44] And I think what james is doing right here in the beginning
[11:50] Is suggesting that these that what he's talking about, right?
[11:54] Is that wealth is not an advantage
[11:58] But rather can be
[12:01] Not always but can be and and jesus speaks into this right a spiritual hindrance
[12:10] I think when you get older like me, I I don't
[12:12] Getting wealthy is not really on my top, you know hundred things. I want to do in life
[12:17] Somebody wants to give me a million dollars. I probably won't turn it down
[12:21] Okay, i'll take it but going out and trying to earn that are probably not gonna. I don't have a desire to do that
[12:25] All right
[12:27] The wealth is not an advantage right is a spiritual hindrance
[12:30] And we know this right?
[12:31] We know this at the core of who we are because there's been times when we wanted to be wealthy even now
[12:35] Maybe we're thinking. Oh, I wish I had money
[12:38] I wish I had more money. I wish I had like just ridiculous amounts of money and do what I want
[12:41] But how was that? Like, how is that pleasing to god?
[12:44] Jesus said on the end towards the end of the mount of uh sermon on the mount in matthew 6
[12:50] He said no one can serve two masters
[12:52] Either will hate the one and love the other or he'll be devoted to the one and despise the other you cannot serve both god and money
[12:58] That's what james is saying
[13:02] right to the rich
[13:04] And an answer to a question which came before the parable of the rich fool jesus began watch out
[13:09] Be on your guard against all kinds of greed a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions
[13:15] through 12
[13:16] After the parable he stated for where your treasure is there your heart will be awesome
[13:20] Where your treasures is your treasure in gaining riches and money and possessions?
[13:26] That's where your heart is
[13:28] You remember the story of the rich young ruler
[13:33] Came to jesus said what must I do to know how to be saved? What must I do basically to gain eternal life?
[13:37] And jesus told him go sell
[13:40] All to inherit in her eternal life
[13:44] Mark 10 says he went away sad because he had great wealth
[13:48] It is not
[13:53] In this time the bible time and even today it is not uncommon and james is speaking to mostly poor christians
[14:00] Right before this part of chapter five, but he's speaking to mostly poor christians that the poor tend to search god
[14:06] not always
[14:09] Making a generalization the poor tend to be more in tune with who god is and and wanting some know more about him
[14:15] Whereas the rich have the rich have the money have the possessions, so they don't need god or the so they think
[14:21] But here what we see with jesus over and over again is his unrelenting point is this
[14:28] It is impossible for anyone who trusts in riches to get into heaven
[14:31] You get that
[14:35] We kind of maybe know that on the surface of but really like are you and jesus is stating over and over and over again
[14:41] It is impossible for anyone who trusts in riches to get into heaven
[14:45] Material possessions tend to focus our lives our thoughts our interests on the world
[14:57] And
[14:59] The more we have the easier it is to be possessed by our possessions
[15:03] The easier it is to be possessed by our comforts possessed by our recreations
[15:09] Jesus when you remember when he talks about the soil
[15:13] And how it's received different kind of your heart being the soil basically and how it's received
[15:17] He says this on one of the soils the worries of this life
[15:20] The deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word
[15:25] Right
[15:27] We know this to be true
[15:32] The more we want the more we get the more we want the more we have the less we
[15:37] Worry about the things of god
[15:40] And so for the rich man or woman that don't know jesus having haven't having not put their faith in christ but their riches
[15:50] This warning is for them
[15:54] Weeping how for the miseries that are going to come upon you
[15:56] But for the christian
[16:00] There won't be no miseries right because we have been declared righteous, but there is still warnings for us
[16:05] How much do we focus on material goods on wealth
[16:10] Now without reality with that reality in mind james turns the four sins
[16:16] Right for these unsaved that are going to be that he's calling out but also for us to look at
[16:22] The first one is found in verse basically two and three. Let's let me read it again
[16:26] It says your riches have rotted and your garments are moth eaten your gold and silver have corroded and their corrosion will be evidence
[16:34] Against you only eat your flesh like fire
[16:36] Okay, all right seems kind of harsh. All right. Number one is hoarding
[16:42] No hoarding
[16:45] We all said what was it was a show the hoarding TV?
[16:47] What was that the orders or something like that you ever see some of that?
[16:49] I couldn't even watch it because it just I watched that. I I can't even like it. Just uh, right
[16:54] It's just I can't even imagine
[16:56] There's a story
[17:00] About
[17:04] And they uh, a lady named bertha adams and you may have heard it it's been
[17:07] It's out and you probably heard a story like this, right?
[17:09] She was 71 years old and was in a paper
[17:11] So she was 71 years old when she died alone in west palm beach florida on easter sunday 1976
[17:18] The coroner's report read cause of death malnutrition
[17:22] After wasting away to 50 pounds. She could no longer stay alive
[17:26] When the state authorities made their preliminary investigation of her home. They found
[17:30] A veritable pig pen the biggest mess you can imagine one season inspector declared it. He had never seen a dwelling in greater disarray
[17:39] Bertha had begged food for at her neighbor door at her neighbor's door and had gotten what clothes she had from the salvage
[17:45] From the salvation army from all appearances. She was a penniless recluse a pitiful and forgotten widow
[17:51] But such was not the case
[17:53] Amid the jumble of her filthy disheveled belongings were found two keys through a safe deposit box at two different locates
[18:00] local banks
[18:02] The discovery was unbelievable
[18:03] The first box contained over 700 atm t stock certificates plus hundreds of other valuable notes bonds and solid financial securities
[18:11] Not to mention cash amounting to 200 000 the second box had certificates
[18:15] No certificates just cash 600 000 to be exact bertha adams was a millionaire and then some that she died of starvation
[18:23] All right, now that's an extreme example of hoarding right
[18:28] As you know just of seeing that this lady died alone. Obviously, it's probably a mental health issues, right?
[18:36] but still
[18:39] James is this is what james is saying your wealth has rotted and moths have eaten your clothes your gold and silver are corroded
[18:44] The corrode corrosion will testify against you
[18:48] So in biblical times, there was basically three
[18:51] Types of wealth or how they gained wealth, right?
[18:55] Or maybe even before biblical times right food with your grain. You can grow grain and produce grain
[19:02] All right, that's your riches
[19:04] That's what basically if you look at verse, uh, what was that verse three? No, no two because your riches have rotted, right?
[19:10] He's probably most likely speaking of food or some sort
[19:13] right, um
[19:15] their clothing linen fine linens, okay and precious metals and jewels
[19:20] And james is going through each one and saying like
[19:24] Why hoarding is damaging in all three and what's going to happen?
[19:28] Their their grain or their riches has rotted
[19:32] Right showing that the futile attempt right of of keeping them and preserving them their clothing so important to their status
[19:40] That maybe even some of them would wear different
[19:43] Tunics or different outfits depending on who they were seeing
[19:47] right
[19:50] Are ruined and storage and moth eaten they are worthless
[19:53] Now he does say silver and rust corrode, but if you know or silver and gold corrode
[19:58] But if you know silver and gold they don't actually corrode and I I think
[20:02] What james is probably referring to as more of a tarnished look
[20:06] right
[20:08] Tarnished indicating how long the hoarded wealth had sat idle
[20:11] right
[20:13] And he warns the risk to corrosion will testify against you
[20:16] Because it witness to the greed and selfishness of these
[20:22] rich people
[20:24] Who had four far more than it could ever use while the workers were deprived of wages or good living
[20:30] right
[20:32] And then you know just when he says we'll eat your flesh
[20:37] Like fire is a graphic way of declaring that their greed will result
[20:42] in their own destruction
[20:45] So then yeah, I don't know if you've ever read amis the book of amis
[20:48] The whole thing is basically like this. This is this basically reads like amis, right?
[20:53] You're you know, you're all in trouble, right?
[20:55] Country's in trouble, but in this case, it's it's rich men and women
[21:00] So, but what does this warning mean to us today right? You're like, okay
[21:03] The bible doesn't discourage obviously saving
[21:09] right and smart planning
[21:12] Right for one's needs, but it's dead set against the
[21:14] The over accumulation accumulation of wealth focused solely on continuing in our own comfort
[21:21] Right if that's all we focus on is accumulating more wealth so that we can
[21:28] enjoy more comforts
[21:30] and pleasures
[21:33] Jesus had something to say about that also
[21:37] He says do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal
[21:42] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in
[21:48] And steal for where your treasure is there your heart will be also
[21:51] And a wise christian
[21:56] Right will long to submit to these words
[21:59] for jesus
[22:02] And I do want to say this right when I think of people storing up like when I was reading this when I was thinking
[22:08] People storing up uh treasures in heaven. I was thinking of some of you
[22:11] Like just in what you know in the context of our church
[22:19] You know whether it be hosting whether it be watching kids and giving up your sunday morning and or making food or you know
[22:26] or or
[22:27] Visiting with people who you know are hurting
[22:29] And that's what jesus that's what james is talking about
[22:33] A store up treasures in heaven
[22:37] And the number two sin
[22:42] That james mentioned mentions is in verse four
[22:45] Let's read behold the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields
[22:48] Which you kept back by fraud are crying out against you and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the lord of hosts
[22:55] pretty easy fraud
[22:57] Leviticus 19 13 says this do not defraud your neighbor or rob him do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight
[23:04] Proverbs 327 28 says do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it is your power to act
[23:10] Do not say to your neighbor come back later. I'll give it to tomorrow when you have it with you now
[23:14] That the landlords in this
[23:20] Passage
[23:23] Are doing this to the poor?
[23:26] I mean look that's a verb behold the wages of labors who mowed your fields, which you kept back
[23:32] By fraud are crying out against you
[23:35] Not like that mentioned crying out twice
[23:41] right
[23:42] Ladies and labors who kept back from crying out against you and the cries of the harvesters have reached our ears of the lord
[23:48] of hosts
[23:50] I think this is a terrible crime for two reasons
[23:54] But think about this
[23:56] Right these workers these poor workers were living basically what we would call paycheck to paycheck or or what's other saying?
[24:02] Hand them out, right?
[24:04] They're basically just like they you know, they got some money that ate
[24:07] And so a day without wages meant a day without food
[24:10] And yet the people could have paid them they had the money they did the work but they withheld
[24:17] Second the owners
[24:20] Were doing this at harvest time. That's why it said the harvesters have reached the ear, right the harvesters
[24:26] Meaning they have harvested the food the stuff whatever was the grain or whatever and now stored it
[24:31] But we're not helping anybody else
[24:35] So their barns are full
[24:40] But the workers have to go away hungry
[24:42] But it reaches the lord of hosts right god hears and will avenge
[24:49] And
[24:51] I think james harsh words
[24:53] Cheer against any person who reaps wealth at the expense of the poor
[24:59] Now this is against unbelievers, but sadly I think it's untrue of christians right in a way, maybe it looks a little different
[25:08] I don't think we're holding wages back from people, you know, if you have a business
[25:11] Hopefully you're you're paying them a great good wage and you're you know, but I mean I think in other ways
[25:16] right
[25:18] I always think like you ever go with people who you go to a restaurant. My sister was a waitress, right? So
[25:22] You know, she's she's told me stories
[25:25] And so I have this idea that
[25:28] Like it's it's hard to be a server to serve people in that in the food business and some of you have done it
[25:33] So, you know, right it's hard
[25:35] Here we go with somebody though
[25:37] And they're like they you know
[25:38] They you see the tip and it's like this little teeny amount and you know
[25:41] there's people and i'm like and you know, I I just get like
[25:45] like all kinds of work about that inside because i'm like these poor like maybe it's because I I know somebody personally and the
[25:50] Harshness that they have to deal with now sometimes
[25:53] And i'm like, but shouldn't christians shouldn't we just be joyfully generous?
[25:57] You know, somebody is serving us. God has given us the the the wherewithal and the funds and whatever to go out
[26:05] And be served that's what that's basically what it is, right? You're going somewhere to be served you're served and yet you're like, uh
[26:11] They didn't ask me if I wanted a drink
[26:15] They didn't do you got your food, right?
[26:17] I know that's just one instance
[26:21] Maybe you have somebody come over and do work for you at your right take care of them as a christian
[26:26] Let's take care of those of people
[26:28] Yes, obviously
[26:33] We're not being judged in this sense, right? We'll be judged. I want in case you don't know
[26:38] Yes, we will still be before god and be judged but the judgment right god then looks at christ and he is our payment for that judgment
[26:44] Whereas most of these people in this place
[26:47] They don't have that so god looks at them and sees all their sin
[26:51] And then they are punished whereas god looks at us those who have put their faith in christ and sees christ
[26:57] And says enter
[26:59] right
[27:00] Because you've given your life to christ
[27:02] I just want to make that clear
[27:07] Take care of people
[27:09] Obviously most of you, you know, even if you have a business
[27:12] I think are gonna probably pay the people that are working for you not with old
[27:15] But there's more to it than that for christians
[27:18] And I just like to ask the question for myself right we we should ask this am I joyfully generous
[27:29] I joyfully generous
[27:34] Maybe you don't have a lot right we talked about this at mark right the lady who gave all that she had
[27:38] You know said nothing. She gave from her poverty
[27:41] But she was joyfully generous, right? She just gave what you had
[27:45] Anyway
[27:48] So that's sin number two sin number three. This one probably hits a little maybe a little closer to home
[27:52] This is verse five
[27:55] You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter
[28:01] self-indulgence
[28:03] right
[28:05] Self-indulgence the third charge against the rich is that they have lived in luxury and self-indulgence
[28:12] They're kind of synonyms, right?
[28:15] But there's a shade of difference. I think the first one refers to luxury
[28:20] That I think creates this soft and weak person maybe
[28:24] The second word describes the extravagant and wasteful self-indulgence
[28:29] Both have both are immoral
[28:33] Right in their unrestrained indulgence the rich had fattened themselves for the day of slaughter. This is really an interesting
[28:40] Like play on words there right because god uses those words often in the old testament
[28:45] Jeremiah 12 3 actually he says just so you can
[28:50] Said but you oh lord know me you see me and test my heart towards you
[28:54] Put them out like sheep for the slaughter and set them apart for the day of slaughter
[28:58] Okay, that's just one path because you use others
[29:02] I
[29:04] Think james reference to this luxuries living is very descriptive
[29:10] Meaning you have lived in luxury
[29:14] right or
[29:16] Delicly you have lived delicately delicately. I'm really sure the words in case you haven't noticed meaning a soft pamper life
[29:22] This mention of self-indulgence literally
[29:29] Means you've taken your pleasure
[29:31] You're taking your pleasure
[29:34] And it kind of reminds me if you think about it the prodigal son right when he left
[29:39] the father
[29:41] He said you might inherit it and just goes and lives
[29:44] right in self-indulgence
[29:47] Ultimately when we think about this right it should be characterized by
[29:53] Doing and as we think about ourselves right doing or tending to exactly this is this this is the definition by the way
[30:00] Self-indulgence basically by doing or tending to do exactly what one wants, especially when this involves pleasure or idleness
[30:10] Now yes, you know again harsh words for those who are unsaid but for us
[30:17] That shouldn't be the mark of a christian
[30:21] Our goal shouldn't be live a pampered life
[30:23] Remember our lives are but a missed
[30:27] So we work hard
[30:30] We live joyfully and we give generously
[30:32] That should be the mark of a christian who loves god
[30:35] We work hard we live joyfully
[30:39] And we give generously
[30:41] Remember john piper wrote a book and I don't remember ramon. Do you remember the book about the peaches and the shells?
[30:47] I forget what to tell but anyway, the idea of the book was don't waste your life
[30:51] I think it's called don't waste your life
[30:53] And he's talking about how people get to the age like, you know
[30:55] I have a few more years, but I get to retirement and go live on a beach and then they're picking up seashells
[31:00] Yet eternity is literally right around the corner for them
[31:03] And he's going uh, hello
[31:07] You're not done. God hasn't called you home yet
[31:10] Right meaning go work still like maybe not work as far as a physical job
[31:16] Go volunteer go help go tell you know, whatever it is. Go help other people. Whatever it is
[31:20] Do not just sit on a beach collecting shells
[31:22] And that's this is id here we just give up
[31:26] I'm living my self-indulgent life. Let me do
[31:30] Somebody needs help. Uh, I got to give up something
[31:33] We work hard like christians we work hard we live joyfully and we give generously
[31:45] Oh
[31:47] All right number four
[31:49] Oh, by the way this whole back to number three
[31:52] I do want to say when he's you know, and I think he got this but just in case right when he says
[31:57] You have lived in luxury and something that you have fat in your hearts and day of slaughter, you know
[32:00] He is it's a picture, right?
[32:02] You know like the calf or the cow who you know
[32:06] We fatten up and then we slaughter and then we it's again. It's impending judgment, right judgment that's coming
[32:12] And for those who have decided that they don't care about anybody else of those unsafe and now they're going to face the judgment
[32:18] Lastly
[32:23] Versus verse six you have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you
[32:28] Injustice
[32:32] Now I mean the world we said we hear injustice now at least I do and i'm gonna hate that word
[32:35] Right because I think of the worldly terms of injustice and i'm like, that's that's not what god talks about
[32:41] But there is justice true injustice
[32:43] And what happens here he says you have condemned and murdered the righteous person he does not resist you I like the niv version
[32:51] Who says you have condemned and murdered the innocent one who was not opposing you now?
[32:55] There are two thoughts on this one that he's not really talking about murder murder. All right, he's talking about made more of a
[33:01] Judicial murder the rich people control the courts. They had the power and so if a poor person came and said hey
[33:07] I'm not getting my wages. I'm like, there's nothing they can do
[33:10] They were out
[33:11] right, and so
[33:13] You know, what are they supposed to do? What course of action did they have nothing?
[33:16] Um, they were helpless
[33:20] so some people think james is just you know using
[33:22] Kind of hyperbole
[33:24] The show like oh this but others say no he's talking about people who murder because they go they point to examples of jesus
[33:31] Right who were who was basically killed by the rich?
[33:35] right
[33:37] stephen
[33:38] Right without any kind of
[33:40] you know
[33:41] system in place for them
[33:43] james the the brother of john not this james another john's his sons of zebedee and read in acts chapter
[33:51] I don't think it's 12. We can only do it, but james is killed by the sword
[33:55] again by the same kind of people no no
[33:59] They have condemned and murdered and when it says he does not resist you or the niv says he does the niv says
[34:06] Who was not opposing you meaning that these people were killing?
[34:10] the innocent literally
[34:13] And they weren't fighting back like they were killing people who weren't gonna fight back
[34:17] And I don't really have an opinion on which way could both are bad, right
[34:25] Obviously, I don't none of you are murderers
[34:28] Sorry, hey just because you sometimes you want to murder your kid doesn't mean you're a murderer, all right
[34:36] um
[34:38] The question is right in that regard
[34:44] How do you treat other people
[34:49] Right in this case they're literally condemning and murdering or not literally but withholding something from a righteous person
[34:57] Meaning the people that james is originally talked and us
[35:05] The question is how do you treat people and again we get back to that point
[35:08] How do you treat your brothers and sisters of christ? How do you talk about your brothers sisters in christ?
[35:12] How do you love your brothers and sisters in christ
[35:17] I think as we get to the end, I think there's some questions we have to ask herself and it's the questions on those those four things
[35:30] right
[35:33] Am I a hoarder and obviously none of the you that I know of
[35:36] Are hoarding to you know, your house is filled to the top with stuff and you have to have a little tunnel, you know to get in
[35:42] Hopefully that's not you
[35:44] Uh if it is it's a problem
[35:46] but
[35:48] All right. Am I
[35:49] guilty
[35:51] Of wanting or desiring or having even an over
[35:54] accumulation of wealth
[35:57] Do I desire that
[36:02] How about this have I ever
[36:04] Or am I now?
[36:07] Right defrauding somebody
[36:09] Is there financial deception in my life in somewhere?
[36:13] somehow
[36:16] James is opposed to it. God is opposed to it
[36:18] Have I like the world this is number three participated in self-indulgence or am I now participating in self-indulgence?
[36:31] And then I have I murdered another which hopefully the answer of true murder is not but really what I mean by that is
[36:35] Have you hurt someone because of the power advantage you might have whether it be at work whether it be a friendship whether it be a church?
[36:42] You know, this is I I actually like the rest of james, I think it's pretty awesome
[36:53] I mean there's some still all but this is awesome
[36:55] But again, this is still going on that whole lot of people take it with chapter four because it's like this just boom boom
[37:01] Boom, you're just getting him
[37:02] And always speaking to the unsafe we see right in our own lives because we know that wealth and money and possessions impact us
[37:08] I think
[37:14] If we look at paul, he gives us some advice because there's some people who still at the end of the day when I go home
[37:18] And still go
[37:20] Still want to be rich, right?
[37:21] Yeah, making money is no problem making money right to glorify god with is no problem
[37:26] But if your desire is just to be rich, that's a problem
[37:28] Right first timothy 6 9 through 10 gives us good advice for those who would want to be rich
[37:34] It says this people who want to get rich fall into into temptation and trap
[37:40] And a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction
[37:45] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil
[37:49] Some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs
[37:53] And so there's that balance now sometimes god blesses people and they're super wealthy
[38:00] right
[38:02] And then and we're not to look at them and go oh, oh there no, but maybe
[38:06] They're doing everything god has wants them to do
[38:09] Right, they're givers. They're generous. They they love god and they love serving god
[38:15] I have a friend like that. He just came to visit this week. We do both lori and I they just drove up
[38:20] and he is
[38:23] extremely wealthy
[38:25] But he also lives as they live their life in a way that
[38:30] Right they want to help people
[38:34] All times
[38:37] But if your desire is just to get rich
[38:39] Timothy has that warning
[38:41] right
[38:42] People who want to get rich fall into temptation and trap and into many foolish and harmful desires
[38:47] But he also gives advice for those
[38:50] Maybe who are already rich and in some cases right in the world if you're looking at the world
[38:55] We would kind of fit that category
[38:58] Right, we we'd fit the the wealthy category
[39:00] All right. We all have houses. We'll have cars
[39:03] All clothes, right? We all you know indoor plumbing
[39:09] And timothy says this first timothy says this this is paul writing
[39:12] In chapter 6 verse 17 command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant in order to put their hope and wealth
[39:19] Which is so uncertain but to put their hope in god who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment
[39:25] This is a great problem. Throw think about that
[39:28] everything for our enjoyment
[39:31] Don't be arrogant
[39:36] If you if god has given you and he has given us
[39:39] All right, so to think that we've done something
[39:41] to earn that
[39:44] Instead of saying thank you lord
[39:47] Right. Thank you lord. Let me let me be generous with what you've given me because that's the goal
[39:51] He gives to us for us to give to others and to build his kingdom with it
[39:55] That's why this idea of of hoarding and you know
[40:00] Do injustice or self-indulgence and all those things are no good. They go against who god is
[40:08] And so I just want to encourage you as you leave today as you're thinking about this harsh
[40:12] You know and the next time you read it because hopefully you'll read james again
[40:15] Probably you might be a while because you'll be like nah
[40:17] Right, but you get to chapter five and you're like wow
[40:20] This is harsh thinking this number one. It's not
[40:23] Technically for you in the sense that those judgments aren't coming for you if you're safe
[40:27] But it is for us to think about and say okay lord
[40:31] again, show me
[40:33] Show me where
[40:37] I'm hoarding things show me where i'm maybe you know committing a type of fraud against you
[40:43] where i'm
[40:45] You know self-indulging
[40:47] And where I am literally the reason for an injustice
[40:52] And I just wanted that to be our prayer
[40:57] As we leave this place
[40:59] We're gonna sing a song
[41:01] It's it's called
[41:03] His glory
[41:06] um
[41:08] And I like it because the first verse really the whole verse the whole song is great for the first verse says this
[41:15] I have seen my father's glory
[41:17] Revealed in jesus christ and the more I behold him the more he satisfies
[41:22] When I gaze upon his beauty when I see him as I should then my eyes are lifted upward for his glory and my good
[41:28] Right and that's the key
[41:32] Did we find jesus?
[41:34] right
[41:36] Do we behold him and does he satisfy us?
[41:39] Because if not then all of what we just read we we want that right we we want the wealth
[41:47] To live the way we want to live to self-indulge
[41:51] And so as we sing this song if this isn't you this may not be where you're at today
[41:57] You're still struggling between finding that finding christ as you're all in all
[42:04] Let them just be the prayer for you lord. This is who I want to be
[42:08] And i'm driven to find wealth i'm driven to the things of this world
[42:14] Help me to see my father's glory in jesus
[42:18] So that the more that I behold him the more he satisfies
[42:21] We're gonna pray and then we'll sing father
[42:25] Just another tough passage we see james
[42:33] Almost go into profit mode and speak judgment against the rich
[42:37] But even in that lord there's lessons for us
[42:41] First of all lord that you are a god of justice
[42:48] And that those who may look like they're winning now the wealthy and the powerful will have their day
[42:54] Help us to remember that lord
[42:57] Not to get so frustrated by the things of this world
[42:59] My father also help us as believers to just be joyfully generous
[43:10] Whether you give us a lot or whether you give us a little
[43:15] Whether we are a big house we have a little house whether we're renting or whether we own a father just help us to be
[43:23] joyfully generous
[43:26] To you to your people
[43:30] You
[43:32] How can we not when you have graciously given us all things
[43:37] When jesus
[43:40] Is our savior?
[43:42] When jesus has stood in our place lord. How can we not give back?
[43:45] What you have given to us?
[43:48] Just convict us as always lord give us the strength
[43:54] Give us the
[43:59] Spirit to want to make things different in our lives
[44:02] We love you lord in jesus name. We pray. Amen