Attitude Matters: James 5:1-6
Money in the End
John Witte
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, 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. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.—James 5:1-6 (ESV)
Money is never far from our thoughts. Most people think they need more than they have. This is true whether we have a little or a lot. Beyond paying our bills, it also contributes to our feelings of significance – how we assess our value compared to others. None of that is to say that more money removes our problems; it’s usually just the opposite.
In today’s passage, James specifically addressed people who were well off. Speaking like a prophet, he gave them a glimpse into their future – which wasn’t pleasant.
John Witte
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, 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. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.—James 5:1-6 (ESV)
Money is never far from our thoughts. Most people think they need more than they have. This is true whether we have a little or a lot. Beyond paying our bills, it also contributes to our feelings of significance – how we assess our value compared to others. None of that is to say that more money removes our problems; it’s usually just the opposite.
In today’s passage, James specifically addressed people who were well off. Speaking like a prophet, he gave them a glimpse into their future – which wasn’t pleasant.
WATCH > The video above
ASK> What would you do if you won the lottery and became vastly wealthy overnight?
ASK> How much money does it take to make a person genuinely wealthy? Choose an amount. How did you arrive at that number? Would you say that your opinion has changed during your life?
READ> 1 Timothy 6:6-10
ASK> Are you content? Does your spending over the last year bear that out? Why or why not? If not, how much difference would more money make?
READ> Matthew 6:19-20
ASK > What have you spent a lot of money on that proved a bad investment?
ASK> What’s the difference between spending and investing?
Beyond wasting money, James warned about using money to oppress people.
ASK> How is that done today? Are things different today from James’ day? Why or why not?
READ > James 4:17
ASK> How does that verse apply to our stewardship of money?
READ> Luke 18:18-30
ASK> What do verses 24 and 25 mean to you? How about verses 29 and 30? How does this apply today?
Our church offers tremendous assistance to individuals and families with their resources.
CLICK HERE> https://faithbible.church/financial-stewardship to review our Financial Stewardship Care ministry for ideas and resources.
GROUP PROJECT> Faith Bible Church has several local ministry partners. Chose one of them for additional sponsorship by your group. Consider giving them an ongoing amount of financial support and serving with them as a group regularly.
CLICK HERE> https://faithbible.church/local-missions to begin.
ASK> What would you do if you won the lottery and became vastly wealthy overnight?
ASK> How much money does it take to make a person genuinely wealthy? Choose an amount. How did you arrive at that number? Would you say that your opinion has changed during your life?
READ> 1 Timothy 6:6-10
ASK> Are you content? Does your spending over the last year bear that out? Why or why not? If not, how much difference would more money make?
READ> Matthew 6:19-20
ASK > What have you spent a lot of money on that proved a bad investment?
ASK> What’s the difference between spending and investing?
Beyond wasting money, James warned about using money to oppress people.
ASK> How is that done today? Are things different today from James’ day? Why or why not?
READ > James 4:17
ASK> How does that verse apply to our stewardship of money?
READ> Luke 18:18-30
ASK> What do verses 24 and 25 mean to you? How about verses 29 and 30? How does this apply today?
Our church offers tremendous assistance to individuals and families with their resources.
CLICK HERE> https://faithbible.church/financial-stewardship to review our Financial Stewardship Care ministry for ideas and resources.
GROUP PROJECT> Faith Bible Church has several local ministry partners. Chose one of them for additional sponsorship by your group. Consider giving them an ongoing amount of financial support and serving with them as a group regularly.
CLICK HERE> https://faithbible.church/local-missions to begin.
Posted in Sermon Notes