Riches, Repentance, and the Transforming Power of Grace
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone. If you are between the ages of four and first grade, you are invited to join the children's worship at the entrance of the church. For the rest of us, please turn to James chapter 5 in your Bibles. Today, we will be exploring the first six verses of this chapter. This passage is a challenging one, but it is often the difficult passages that bring the greatest blessings. James begins with a stark warning to the rich, urging them to weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon them. Their riches have rotted, their garments are moth-eaten, and their gold and silver have corroded. This corrosion will be evidence against them and will eat their flesh like fire. The wages of the laborers who mowed their fields, which they kept back by fraud, are crying out against them, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.
James is calling the rich to repentance. He reminds us that the rich man should boast in his humiliation because, like the flowers of the field, all earthly riches will pass away. The prophets of the Old Testament often spoke in this manner, warning of coming judgment. James is doing the same here, urging us to examine whether we fall into the category of the rich who are being warned.
James takes us on a journey to the foot of the cross, reminding us that the righteous person, Jesus, did not resist the world's ways that led to His crucifixion. Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, gave Himself to deliver us from this dreadful journey. Before we can embrace humble living and generosity, we must first hear the good news of the gospel and let it penetrate our very beings. We come to the cross with nothing in our hands, clinging only to the cross.
James also addresses the issue of being possessed by our possessions. He warns that our bank accounts are indicators of the condition of our hearts. When we are possessed by our possessions, we are inclined to adopt the world's ways. This includes oppressing workers, living in luxury and self-indulgence, and fattening our hearts in a day of slaughter. James cites Deuteronomy 24, which warns against oppressing hired workers and withholding their wages. The wages themselves cry out against such injustice, much like the blood of Abel cried out to God from the ground.
James emphasizes that it is not about the money we possess, but whether that money possesses us. The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils, and it can lead us to wander away from the faith and pierce ourselves with many pangs. James is writing to the church, urging us to examine our hearts and ensure that we are not merely professors of the faith but possessors of the faith.
Finally, James invites us to come to the foot of the cross and receive the fullness of the riches of grace that Jesus has for us. This grace transforms our hearts, making us generous and willing to trust the Lord with all that we are and all that we have. As we come to the table of the Lord, we acknowledge our need for Him and the great price He paid for our salvation. Let us pray and ask the Lord to help us see the great price He paid and to acknowledge our need for Him.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Dangers of Wealth: James warns the rich to weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon them. Their riches have rotted, and their garments are moth-eaten. This serves as a stark reminder that earthly wealth is temporary and can lead to spiritual decay if not handled with humility and generosity. We must examine our hearts to ensure that we are not possessed by our possessions. [01:38]
2. The Call to Repentance: James calls the rich to repentance, urging them to boast in their humiliation. Like the flowers of the field, all earthly riches will pass away. This call to repentance is not just for the wealthy but for all of us who may be tempted to place our trust in material possessions rather than in God. We must come to the cross with nothing in our hands, clinging only to the grace of Jesus. [06:52]
3. The Injustice of Withholding Wages: James condemns the practice of withholding wages from laborers, stating that the wages themselves cry out against such injustice. This echoes the Old Testament warnings against oppressing hired workers. As Christians, we are called to treat all people with fairness and justice, reflecting the character of God in our dealings. [21:00]
4. The Love of Money: James highlights the dangers of the love of money, which is a root of all kinds of evils. This craving can lead us to wander away from the faith and pierce ourselves with many pangs. We must guard our hearts against the temptation to be possessed by our wealth, whether we have much or little. Our focus should be on laying up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys. [14:17]
5. The Transforming Power of Grace: James invites us to come to the foot of the cross and receive the fullness of the riches of grace that Jesus has for us. This grace transforms our hearts, making us generous and willing to trust the Lord with all that we are and all that we have. As we come to the table of the Lord, we acknowledge our need for Him and the great price He paid for our salvation. [29:10]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:38] - Warning to the Rich
[06:52] - Call to Repentance
[14:17] - The Love of Money
[21:00] - Injustice of Withholding Wages
[29:10] - Transforming Power of Grace
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- James 5:1-6
- 1 Timothy 6:10
- Deuteronomy 24:14-15
### Observation Questions
1. What specific warnings does James give to the rich in James 5:1-6? ([01:38])
2. According to James 5:4, what is crying out against the rich who have withheld wages? ([21:00])
3. How does James describe the condition of the rich people's possessions in James 5:2-3? ([01:38])
4. What does 1 Timothy 6:10 say about the love of money and its consequences?
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James use such strong language to warn the rich in James 5:1-6? What is he hoping to achieve? ([01:38])
2. How does the concept of being "possessed by our possessions" relate to the warnings in James 5:1-6? ([11:36])
3. In what ways does James 5:4-6 echo the Old Testament teachings found in Deuteronomy 24:14-15? ([21:00])
4. How does the love of money lead people to "wander away from the faith" as mentioned in 1 Timothy 6:10? ([14:17])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any possessions or wealth that you feel might be possessing you? How can you begin to change this? ([11:36])
2. James calls the rich to repentance and to boast in their humiliation. How can you practice humility in your daily life, especially in areas where you might feel prideful? ([06:52])
3. Have you ever experienced or witnessed the injustice of withheld wages or unfair treatment at work? How did it affect you, and what steps can you take to ensure fairness in your own dealings? ([21:00])
4. The sermon mentioned that our bank accounts are indicators of the condition of our hearts. What does your financial management say about your heart, and what changes might you need to make? ([16:35])
5. James invites us to come to the foot of the cross and receive the fullness of the riches of grace. How can you make this a daily practice in your life? ([29:10])
6. The love of money is described as a root of all kinds of evils. What practical steps can you take to guard your heart against the love of money? ([14:17])
7. Reflect on the transforming power of grace mentioned in the sermon. How has grace transformed your heart, and in what areas do you still need to experience this transformation? ([29:10])
Devotional
Day 1: The Dangers of Wealth
James warns the rich to weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon them. Their riches have rotted, and their garments are moth-eaten. This serves as a stark reminder that earthly wealth is temporary and can lead to spiritual decay if not handled with humility and generosity. We must examine our hearts to ensure that we are not possessed by our possessions. [01:38]
James 5:1-3 (ESV): "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 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."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your wealth and possessions do not possess you? What steps can you take today to use your resources for God's glory and the benefit of others?
Day 2: The Call to Repentance
James calls the rich to repentance, urging them to boast in their humiliation. Like the flowers of the field, all earthly riches will pass away. This call to repentance is not just for the wealthy but for all of us who may be tempted to place our trust in material possessions rather than in God. We must come to the cross with nothing in our hands, clinging only to the grace of Jesus. [06:52]
James 1:10-11 (ESV): "And the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits."
Reflection: In what ways have you placed your trust in material possessions rather than in God? How can you shift your focus to rely more on God's grace and less on earthly wealth?
Day 3: The Injustice of Withholding Wages
James condemns the practice of withholding wages from laborers, stating that the wages themselves cry out against such injustice. This echoes the Old Testament warnings against oppressing hired workers. As Christians, we are called to treat all people with fairness and justice, reflecting the character of God in our dealings. [21:00]
Deuteronomy 24:14-15 (ESV): "You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brothers or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns. You shall give him his wages on the same day, before the sun sets (for he is poor and counts on it), lest he cry against you to the Lord, and you be guilty of sin."
Reflection: Are there any areas in your life where you might be treating others unfairly or unjustly? How can you make amends and ensure that you reflect God's justice in your actions?
Day 4: The Love of Money
James highlights the dangers of the love of money, which is a root of all kinds of evils. This craving can lead us to wander away from the faith and pierce ourselves with many pangs. We must guard our hearts against the temptation to be possessed by our wealth, whether we have much or little. Our focus should be on laying up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys. [14:17]
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV): "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs."
Reflection: How has the love of money affected your spiritual life? What practical steps can you take to guard your heart against this temptation and focus on eternal treasures?
Day 5: The Transforming Power of Grace
James invites us to come to the foot of the cross and receive the fullness of the riches of grace that Jesus has for us. This grace transforms our hearts, making us generous and willing to trust the Lord with all that we are and all that we have. As we come to the table of the Lord, we acknowledge our need for Him and the great price He paid for our salvation. [29:10]
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Reflection: How has God's grace transformed your heart and life? In what ways can you show generosity and trust in the Lord with all that you have today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "It's not about the money you possess, but whether or not that money possesses you. There's such a great temptation for us. To be possessed by the amount of money we have or don't have. Yes, I bring up the other as well, what we don't have, being possessed. Because quite often, when somebody believes that they don't have enough money, there is a bitterness that can grow, a jealousy that can grow, and an envy that can grow that eats away at our souls." [12:22]
2. "The problem is not money itself. 1 Timothy 6, verse 10. For the love of money, the love of money, is a root of all kinds of evils. A lot of us know that verse. Do you read the rest of it though? For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. That's what James is referring to here. He's writing to the church. It's through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." [14:17]
3. "The Bible does not speak negatively about being wealthy. Or having resources. Time and time and again, we see God blessing people with material wealth. Abraham, Genesis chapter 13, who's very rich in livestock, silver and gold. Isaac, Genesis 26, sowed in the land the Lord gave him and reaped in that same year a hundredfold. It goes on to say, the Lord blessed him and he became rich. David, Solomon, in the New Testament, Lydia, Job. Even after Job had lost everything, at the very end of the book, we read how God restored Job's fortunes and gave him twice as much as what he had in the beginning." [09:38]
4. "It's a journey that brings you to the foot of the cross. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He's doing this intentionally. And he does not resist you. righteous person does not resist you. He gave himself for you. The righteous for the unrighteous. It was the world's ways that led to the crucifixion of the righteous one. Jesus, the Christ, the spotless lamb of God, he gave himself to deliver us from this dreadful journey." [26:07]
### Quotes for Members
1. "When you have tasted of the sweetness and the excellence of his riches, not only do his riches become your riches, but his ways also become your ways. The inclination to follow the ways of this world begins to fade. The heart fattened for the day of slaughter becomes full of grace. And that grace bubbles up and it overflows and it pours out generously. It wants not to justify withholding. It prioritizes what's important and true. It relishes trusting the Lord with all that we are and all we have." [28:30]
2. "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. The Lord of hosts, Lord Sabaoth, the all-powerful God. James is citing here the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 24, where it says, You shall not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy. You shall give him his wages, lest he cry against you to the Lord and you be guilty of sin." [21:00]
3. "James says that the rich man is to rejoice as he is being humbled because just like the flowers of the field, just like the Mother's Day flowers that maybe some of us still have somewhere, they've withered, all of it will pass away. Here he says to the rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. The prophets of the Old Testament used to talk like this. They used to call out to the nation of Israel, warning them of coming judgment." [06:52]
4. "We can be sitting here every Sunday and doing a bunch of Christian things and be very much as possessed by however much or however little money we have. Think about it. James is writing to the church. He says, Your riches rot your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have corroded and their corrosion will be evidence. They testify against you and will eat your flesh like fire. This is really harsh, very much in your face. He's trying to get attention towards what he's saying here. The reality that we will all have to give an account." [15:05]
5. "Before we can ever get off the dreadful journey, we have to first see the reality of the one who humbled himself, who emptied himself, who humbled himself to the point of death. on a cross. We cannot try to obligate, or you can try. It ain't gonna work. We cannot obligate ourselves to humble living and generosity. We first have to hear the good news of the gospel and have it penetrate our very beings. We all come to the cross knowing that there's nothing in our hands that we bring, like the old hymn says, right? Nothing in our hands we bring simply to the cross, I cling." [26:39]
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?