Practical Wisdom: Dealing With Our Resources James 5:1-6 Pastor John Lloyd July 11-12, 2015
James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.
2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are motheaten.
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 selfindulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
Memory Verse: I Timothy 6:17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty,
nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
Big Idea: No limit to what God can do through His generous people. Generosity breaks the hold of materialism.
How can I wisely use the resources God has given me?
I. Pray for a vision of the eternal beyond the temporal.
James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. (Genesis 1:1, 3:5)
2 Corinthians 4:18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.
For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
A. Treasure eternal gain above temporal treasures.
James 5:2 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.
Matthew 6:19 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break
in and steal, (Matthew 6:20-21).
The only things we can keep are the things we freely give to God.
What we try to keep for ourselves is just what we are sure to lose. CS Lewis Mere Christianity
B. Realize the spirit of greed is never satisfied.
James 5:4 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. (Proverbs 27:20, Mark 10:21-22)
I Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain,
7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
(I Timothy 6:8-10, I Corinthians 4:7, Psalm 24:1)
C. Treasure heavenly rewards above earthly pleasures.
James 5:5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in selfindulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.
Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
The only truly secure investment is an eternal investment.
No limit to what God can do through His generous people.
II. Sharing God s resources generously changes our world.
Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (John 3:16, I John 3:1)
I Timothy 6:17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches,
but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
A. Start with small acts of generosity. (Matthew 10:42)
B. Tithe your time to generous care. (Ephesians 5:16)
C. Generous giving brings life to all who are touched by it.
I Timothy 6:18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future,
so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,
so that you by his poverty might become rich.
No limit to what God can do through His generous people.
Thank you for being a part of impacting Southeastern Massachusetts with God s
generous love and resources!
Growth Group Questions for July 15, 2015
1. Read James 5:1-6. Describe in your own words what is happening here. Write down a verse that stands out to
you from this chapter. Why?
2. Some of the fastest growing churches in Christendom are those which advocate the socalled health and
wealth gospel. In extreme forms, this teaching says that Christianity is intended to be a life-long time of physical blessing,
which is typically defined as peace and prosperity in this world here and now. Why is this message so popular?
Is it biblical? Why or why not?
3. In what ways have you seen people oppress others for personal gain?
List some ungodly attitudes that cause oppression.
4. Read James 5:1-6.
James is addressing several issues: indifference to those in need, unfair wages, extreme self indulgence and
murder of the innocent. Match up the verse that describes the offenses above.
5. Read Matthew 5:3-12. How should we respond when life is not fair to us?
6. Read I Timothy 6:9-10. List some of the negative effects that increased wealth can have on people s lives.
7. Read Matthew 6:19-21. How can you use your financial resources for God s glory?
8. Read Luke 6:24, Matthew 19:23-24, Proverbs 11:28, 23:4. Write down a lesson that each verse teaches us.
9. How can money keep you from doing God s work? In what ways do you need to change your
attitude about money?
10. Read I Timothy 6:17-19. How can sharing your wealth improve the state of the world? How can we make a
greater difference in our community?
Memory Verse: I Timothy 6:17As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the
uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.