Stewardship and Justice: Wealth's True Purpose in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Danger of Trusting in Riches Over God

Wealth itself is not condemned in Scripture, but trusting in riches rather than God leads to spiritual peril. Jesus warns that it is difficult for those who trust in wealth to enter the kingdom of God, not because riches are inherently evil, but because they can easily become the object of our trust and devotion. The heart’s allegiance is what matters most; when riches become our security, we risk missing out on the true riches found in Christ. Instead, we are called to trust God above all, knowing that with Him, all things are possible—even the salvation of the wealthy who turn their hearts to Him. [07:40]

Mark 10:23-27 (ESV)
And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Reflection: In what area of your life are you tempted to trust in your own resources or abilities rather than relying on God? What would it look like to shift your trust to Him today?

Day 2: The Sin of Withholding Wages and Oppressing the Poor

God’s heart is deeply moved by the cries of those who are oppressed, especially when the wealthy withhold what is rightfully owed to workers. Scripture repeatedly commands fair treatment and timely payment for laborers, warning that to defraud or exploit others is to invite God’s judgment. The Lord hears the cries of the cheated and stands as their defender. We are called to integrity and justice in all our dealings, ensuring that we do not participate in or enable systems that oppress the vulnerable. [24:00]

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: Is there anyone in your life—at work, in your family, or community—whom you may have wronged or failed to treat justly? How can you make it right this week?

Day 3: Guarding Against Covetousness and Greed

Covetousness is a sin of the heart that can quietly erode our character and relationships. Jesus warns us to beware of greed, reminding us that life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. The desire for more can lead to self-indulgence, dissatisfaction, and even injustice toward others. Instead, we are called to cultivate contentment and to value a good name and God’s favor above material gain. True wealth is found in a heart that is free from the grip of greed and set on things above. [27:26]

Luke 12:15 (ESV)
And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Reflection: What is one possession or status symbol you find yourself desiring or envying? How can you practice gratitude and contentment in that area today?

Day 4: The Call to Patient Endurance in the Last Days

Believers are called to patience as we await the coming of the Lord, trusting that God is working out His purposes even when the world seems unjust or chaotic. Like the farmer who waits for the early and latter rains, we are to endure with hope, knowing that God is gathering a precious harvest of souls. The apparent delay in Christ’s return is not neglect, but mercy—He is waiting for more to come to repentance. Our role is to remain steadfast, faithful, and expectant, even as we see signs of the times unfolding. [36:02]

James 5:7-8 (ESV)
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Reflection: Where do you feel weary or impatient in your walk with God or in waiting for justice? How can you renew your hope and patience in Him today?

Day 5: What We Give to God, We Keep

The things we cling to in this life are ultimately fleeting, but what we surrender to God is kept for eternity and multiplied with interest. True stewardship is not about hoarding or self-indulgence, but about open-handed generosity and trust in God’s provision. When we give—whether our resources, time, or talents—we participate in God’s kingdom economy, where nothing given to Him is ever lost. The way up is down; the way to gain is to give. [34:16]

Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Reflection: What is one thing—material or otherwise—that you are holding onto tightly? How can you offer it to God today, trusting Him to use it for His glory?

Sermon Summary

James chapter 5 offers a sobering look at the dangers of wealth acquired through deceit and the responsibilities that come with abundance. The text does not condemn wealth itself—many of God’s faithful servants, from Abraham to Lydia, were blessed with riches. Rather, the warning is against the love of money, the hoarding of resources, and the oppression of the poor. Wealth is a tool, not a measure of righteousness, and it is the heart’s posture toward it that matters most. The rights of private property and personal liberty are affirmed, but so is the call to justice, generosity, and integrity.

Throughout history, God has shown a special concern for the poor and vulnerable. The law required daily wages for laborers, recognizing their dependence on each day’s earnings for survival. To withhold what is owed is not just a social injustice but a spiritual offense—God hears the cries of the oppressed. The pursuit of luxury and self-indulgence, especially at the expense of others, corrodes character and ultimately leads to emptiness. True wealth is not found in possessions but in a good name, loving favor from God, and the things money cannot buy.

James situates these warnings in the context of the “last days”—the time between Christ’s first and second coming. The temptation to store up treasures for security in uncertain times is strong, but such treasures will not endure. The coming tribulation will reveal the futility of hoarded wealth; only what is given to God will last. The call is to patience and faithfulness, like a farmer waiting for the rains. God’s timing is perfect, and the delay in Christ’s return is not neglect but mercy, as He waits for the full harvest of souls.

In the end, the invitation is to examine our hearts: Are we trusting in riches or in God? Are we using what we have to bless others, or are we hoarding for ourselves? The Lord calls us to repentance, stewardship, and hope. Guilt is a gift that leads us to change, but it is not meant to be carried forever. As we lay down our burdens and trust in Christ, we are invited into a life of generosity, justice, and patient expectation for His return.

Key Takeaways

1. Wealth Is Not Evil, but the Love of Money Is Dangerous Scripture does not condemn wealth itself; many of God’s people were blessed with abundance. The real danger lies in trusting riches, hoarding them, or acquiring them through deceit. Wealth is a tool for good or evil, depending on the heart’s orientation—what matters is whether we serve God or mammon. [03:58]
2. God Hears the Cries of the Oppressed and Demands Justice Throughout the Bible, God’s concern for the poor is clear. Withholding wages, exploiting workers, or using power to oppress is not just a social wrong but a spiritual one—God hears and responds to the cries of the vulnerable. Justice is not optional for God’s people; it is a reflection of His own character. [19:54]
3. Covetousness and Self-Indulgence Corrode the Soul The pursuit of luxury and self-indulgence, especially at the expense of others, leads to spiritual decay. Covetousness is a sin of the heart, often invisible but deeply destructive. True fulfillment is not found in possessions, but in a good name, loving favor from God, and a life marked by generosity and integrity. [28:09]
4. What We Hoard, We Lose; What We Give, We Keep The paradox of the kingdom is that clinging to wealth leads to loss, while open-handed generosity leads to lasting treasure. What is kept for self is ultimately lost, but what is given to God and others is multiplied, both in this life and the next. This principle invites us to live with open hands and trust in God’s provision. [34:16]
5. Patience and Hope in the Last Days The call is to patience as we await Christ’s return, trusting that God’s timing is perfect. The delay is not neglect but mercy, as God waits for the full harvest of souls. In uncertain times, our security is not in stored-up riches but in the faithfulness of God, who will bring all things to completion in His time.

** [35:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:38] - Introduction to James and Historical Context
[01:44] - The Bible’s View on Wealth and Poverty
[03:37] - Examples of Wealthy Believers in Scripture
[04:18] - Private Property, Liberty, and Failed Communal Experiments
[06:50] - Jesus’ Warnings About Trusting Riches
[09:10] - The Love of Money: Root of All Kinds of Evil
[10:32] - The Corruption and Futility of Hoarded Wealth
[12:55] - Understanding the “Last Days”
[14:25] - Prophecy, Famine, and the True Value of Wealth
[19:30] - Injustice: Withholding Wages and God’s Response
[22:28] - God’s Laws Protecting the Poor
[27:02] - Covetousness, Character, and the Dangers of Self-Indulgence
[29:34] - The Corrupt Use of Wealth and Power
[33:24] - The True Value of What We Possess
[34:16] - The Paradox of Giving and Keeping
[35:20] - Patience and the Coming of the Lord
[38:53] - The Early and Latter Rains: Signs and Fulfillment
[42:42] - The Outpouring of the Spirit in the Last Days
[45:44] - Final Admonition: Patience, Repentance, and Surrender
[47:15] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

James 5:1-11 (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. 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. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Observation Questions

According to James 5:1-6, what specific actions of the rich does James condemn, and what are the consequences he describes?
What does James say about the “last days” and how does he connect this to the way people use their wealth?
In verses 7-11, what example does James use to encourage patience, and what does he say about God’s timing?
How does the sermon describe God’s attitude toward the poor and those who are oppressed or defrauded?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that wealth itself is not condemned, but the love of money and hoarding are dangerous. Why do you think the heart’s attitude toward wealth matters so much to God?
James says that the cries of the laborers have reached the ears of the Lord. What does this reveal about God’s character and His expectations for justice among His people?
The passage warns that what we hoard, we lose, but what we give, we keep. How does this “kingdom paradox” challenge the way people usually think about security and success?
The sermon connects patience in suffering and waiting for Christ’s return with the image of a farmer waiting for rain. How might this perspective help believers endure difficult or uncertain times?

Application Questions

The sermon points out that many faithful people in the Bible were wealthy, but their trust was in God, not their riches. Is there an area in your life where you are tempted to trust in money or possessions for security? What would it look like to shift that trust to God this week?
James rebukes those who withhold wages or exploit others. Are there ways—big or small—where you might be benefiting at someone else’s expense, even unintentionally? What step could you take to make things right or be more just in your dealings?
The sermon says that covetousness and self-indulgence corrode the soul, even if they are invisible to others. What is one area of your life where you struggle with wanting more or indulging yourself? How could you practice contentment or generosity instead?
The “paradox of the kingdom” is that what we keep, we lose, and what we give, we keep. Is there something (time, money, resources, forgiveness) you are holding onto tightly? What would it look like to open your hand and give it to God or others?
The sermon calls us to examine our hearts: Are we using what we have to bless others, or are we hoarding for ourselves? Think of a practical way you could use your resources this month to bless someone in need. What’s one step you can take this week?
James encourages patience and hope as we wait for Christ’s return, reminding us that God’s timing is perfect. Is there a situation in your life where you are struggling to be patient? How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness in the waiting?
The sermon says guilt is a gift that leads us to change, but it’s not meant to be carried forever. Is there an area where you feel guilt or conviction about your use of money or resources? What would it look like to bring that to God, repent, and move forward in freedom?

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