Jam5:1-11 Faith that Looks to Christ's Return

# Faith that Looks to Christ's Return
## James 5:1-11

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# Am I **ready** for Christ's return?

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## [James:](# "ref") Keep the **Faith**

|   |   |   |
|---|---|---|
| [1:](# "ref") | Stands the **Test** | **Change** of Heart |
| [2:](# "ref") | Loves **Impartially** | **Acts** |
| [3:](# "ref") | Tames the **Tongue** | Shows **Wisdom** |
| [4:](# "ref") | **Mourns** Sin | Is **Humble** |
| [5:](# "ref") | Looks to Christ's **Return** | |

******
[1](# "ref")
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail 
because of the misery that is coming on you.

[2](# "ref")
Your wealth has rotted, 
and moths have eaten your clothes.

[3](# "ref")
Your gold and silver are corroded. 
Their corrosion will testify against you 
and eat your flesh like fire.

[James 5:1-3 (NIV) (p.1/6)](# "ref")

******
You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

[4](# "ref")
Look! The wages you failed to pay 
the workers who mowed your fields 
are crying out against you.

The cries of the harvesters have reached 
the ears of the Lord Almighty.

[James 5:3-4 (NIV) (p.2/6)](# "ref")

******
[5](# "ref")
You have lived on earth 
in luxury and self-indulgence. 
You have fattened yourselves 
in the day of slaughter.

[6](# "ref")
You have condemned and murdered 
the innocent one, 
who was not opposing you.

[James 5:5-6 (NIV) (p.3/6)](# "ref")

******
[7](# "ref")
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, 
until the Lord’s coming.

See how the farmer waits for the land 
to yield its valuable crop, 
patiently waiting 
for the autumn and spring rains.

[8](# "ref")
You too, be patient and stand firm, 
because the Lord’s coming is near.

[James 5:7-8 (NIV) (p.4/6)](# "ref")

******
[9](# "ref")
Don’t grumble against one another, 
brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.

The Judge is standing at the door!

[10](# "ref")
Brothers and sisters, as an example 
of patience in the face of suffering, 
take the prophets who spoke 
in the name of the Lord.

[James 5:9-10 (NIV) (p.5/6)](# "ref")

******
[11](# "ref")
As you know, we count as blessed 
those who have persevered.

You have heard of Job’s perseverance 
and have seen what the Lord 
finally brought about.

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

[James 5:11 (NIV) (p.6/6)](# "ref")

---

## Looking to Christ's Return
1. The Disadvantage of *Wealth*
 1. Money **Rusts** [(v1-3)](# "ref")
 1. Wages **Cry Out** [(v4)](# "ref")
 1. Standard of Living Has a **Cost** [(v5-6)](# "ref")
1. The Promise of *Patience*
 1. **Active** Waiting [(v7-8)](# "ref")
 1. No **Grumbling** [(v9)](# "ref")
 1. Example of the **Prophets** [(v10-11)](# "ref")

>>>
+ money **saved** for myself is unreliable
+ money **withheld** from others testifies against me
+ how I **live** affects my heart
+ be **prepared** for Christ's return
+ **sighing** of resentment
+ look to those who came **before**

---

Now listen, you **rich people**, weep and wail 
because of the **misery** that is coming on you.

[James 5:1 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ audience is **Christians**! ("brothers")
  + **rich**: abundance, no lack
  + **we** all are the 1% wealthy
+ not to dwell in **guilt**
  + still **hope**: what do I **do**?
+ ⇒ **mourn**: our **dependence** on wealth
  + has **crippled** us and
  + **blinded** us from what is important
+ not the **only** time James addresses **rich**:

---

## The Disadvantage of Wealth
The **rich** should take pride in their **humiliation**, 
since they will pass away like a **wild flower**. [(1:10)](# "ref")

"We will carry on business and **make money**" -- 
What is your **life**? You are a **mist** ... [(4:13-14)](# "ref")

Is it not the **rich** who are **exploiting** you? [(2:6)](# "ref")

>>>
+ riches are **fleeting**
+ safety of riches causes us to grow **proud**
+ attachment to riches ⇒ **oppression** of others
+ first: money is not **reliable** as a safety net

---

Your wealth has **rotted**, 
and **moths** have eaten your clothes.

[3](# "ref")
You have **hoarded** wealth in the **last days**.

[James 5:2,3 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **rotted**: useless
+ hoarded: **treasured up** (i.e., to self)
+ last days: assume **future** same as **past**
+ feel **smart**: e.g. Save $200 in car: CV boot

---

Your gold and silver are **corroded**. 
Their corrosion will **testify** against you 
and **eat** your flesh like fire.

[James 5:3 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ testify: **turn** against you
  + master vs mastered by
+ **corroded**: poison

---

Money never **stays** with me. 
It would **burn** me if it did.

I **throw** it out of my hands as soon as possible, 
lest it should find its way into my **heart**. 
[John Wesley, letter to Patty Hall, 1768](# "ref")

**Gain** all you can. **Save** all you can. 
**Give** all you can. 
[John Wesley, "The Use of Money", 1744](# "ref")

[Wellcome Trust](# "caption")

>>>
+ friend left £1000 in will
  + promptly gave to **poor**
  + friend's **sister** applied for some
  + should have asked me before it **flew** away
+ not that work/wages/income are **evil**
  + but not to be **hoarded** for ourselves

---

# Have I **trusted** in wealth as my **safety net**?

---

## Looking to Christ's Return
1. The Disadvantage of *Wealth*
 1. Money Rusts [(v1-3)](# "ref")
 1. **Wages Cry Out** [(v4)](# "ref")
 1. Standard of Living Has a Cost [(v5-6)](# "ref")
1. The Promise of *Patience*
 1. Active Waiting [(v7-8)](# "ref")
 1. No Grumbling [(v9)](# "ref")
 1. Example of the Prophets [(v10-11)](# "ref")

>>>
+ financial relationships with **others**
+ e.g., employees, contractors

---

Look! The **wages** you failed to pay 
the **workers** who mowed your fields 
are **crying out** against you.

[James 5:4 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **wages**: not your money anymore
  + was **held back** (strength) by you
+ **power** struggle
  + believe "who has the $$ has the power"
  + "customer is always **right**"
+ **parable** of rich man
  + planned to build **bigger** barns:

---

“You have **plenty** of grain 
laid up for many **years**. 
Take life **easy**; eat, drink and be **merry**.”

[20](# "ref")
But God said to him, “You **fool**! 
This very night your **life** 
will be demanded from you.

Then **who** will get 
what you have prepared for yourself?”

[Luke 12:19-20 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **purpose** of saving money?
+ **safety** for self/family?
  + **power** / influence?
+ or to **share** / provide for others? 
  + knowing we have a higher **judge**:

---

The **cries** of the harvesters have reached 
the ears of the **Lord Almighty**.

[James 5:4 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ believe money == power:
  + but higher judge: Sabaoth
  + judgment **coming**

---

# What is the **purpose** of **saving** money?

---

## Looking to Christ's Return
1. The Disadvantage of *Wealth*
 1. Money Rusts [(v1-3)](# "ref")
 1. Wages Cry Out [(v4)](# "ref")
 1. **Standard of Living Has a Cost** [(v5-6)](# "ref")
1. The Promise of *Patience*
 1. Active Waiting [(v7-8)](# "ref")
 1. No Grumbling [(v9)](# "ref")
 1. Example of the Prophets [(v10-11)](# "ref")

---

You have lived on earth 
in **luxury** and **self-indulgence**.

You have **fattened** yourselves 
in the day of slaughter.

[James 5:5 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ you: luxuriate, **indulge**, feed
  + **fat** heart: lazy, lack **resilience**
+ **day** of slaughter

---

You have **condemned** and **murdered** 
the innocent one, 
who was not **opposing** you.

[James 5:6 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ condemn (against-righteous), murder
+ to preserve std of living

---

# Whom have I **harmed** to preserve my **standard** of living?

---

## Looking to Christ's Return
1. The Disadvantage of *Wealth*
 1. Money Rusts [(v1-3)](# "ref")
 1. Wages Cry Out [(v4)](# "ref")
 1. Standard of Living Has a Cost [(v5-6)](# "ref")
1. The Promise of *Patience*
 1. **Active Waiting** [(v7-8)](# "ref")
 1. No Grumbling [(v9)](# "ref")
 1. Example of the Prophets [(v10-11)](# "ref")

---

See how the **farmer** waits for the land 
to yield its valuable crop,

patiently **waiting** 
for the autumn and spring **rains**.

[James 5:7 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ autumn (early) rain: for growth
  + spring (late) rain: for planting
+ active waiting: work hard,
  + relying on God's providence
  + trusting (assuming) his promises

---

You too, be **patient** and **stand firm**, 
because the Lord’s coming is near.

[James 5:8 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ stand firm: strengthen hearts

---

# What **work** has God given me in **preparation** for His return?

---

## Looking to Christ's Return
1. The Disadvantage of *Wealth*
 1. Money Rusts [(v1-3)](# "ref")
 1. Wages Cry Out [(v4)](# "ref")
 1. Standard of Living Has a Cost [(v5-6)](# "ref")
1. The Promise of *Patience*
 1. Active Waiting [(v7-8)](# "ref")
 1. **No Grumbling** [(v9)](# "ref")
 1. Example of the Prophets [(v10-11)](# "ref")

---

Don’t **grumble** against one another, 
brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.

[James 5:9 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ grumble: sigh, groan, narrow/constricted
  + pos (longing) or neg (frustration)
  + internal, unexpressed deep emotion
+ JJ: *sigh*, "mom! you know...."

---

Do not **slander** one another.

Anyone who **speaks against** a brother or sister 
or **judges** them 
speaks against the **law** and judges it.

[James 4:11 (NIV)](# "ref")

---

Don’t *grumble* against one another, 
brothers and sisters, or you will be **judged**.

The Judge is standing at the **door**!

[James 5:9 (NIV)](# "ref")

---

# Have I **sighed** in **resentment** at a child of God?

>>>
or frustration

---

## Looking to Christ's Return
1. The Disadvantage of *Wealth*
 1. Money Rusts [(v1-3)](# "ref")
 1. Wages Cry Out [(v4)](# "ref")
 1. Standard of Living Has a Cost [(v5-6)](# "ref")
1. The Promise of *Patience*
 1. Active Waiting [(v7-8)](# "ref")
 1. No Grumbling [(v9)](# "ref")
 1. **Example of the Prophets** [(v10-11)](# "ref")

---

Brothers and sisters, as an example 
of **patience** in the face of **suffering**, 
take the **prophets** who spoke 
in the name of the Lord.

[James 5:10 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ e.g.,, Is6:11 seeing but not **perceiving**
  + Jeremiah
+ Hab 1:2 how long

---

**How long**, Lord, must I call for **help**, 
but you do not **listen**?

Or cry out to you, “**Violence!**” 
but you do not **save**?

[Habakkuk 1:2 (NIV)](# "ref")

---

You have heard of **Job’s** perseverance 
and have seen what the **Lord** 
finally brought about.

[James 5:11 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ James highlights **Job**'s example:

---

At this, Job got up and 
**tore** his robe and **shaved** his head. 
Then he fell to the ground in **worship** and said:

“**Naked** I came from my mother’s **womb**, 
and naked I will **depart**.

The Lord **gave** and the Lord has taken **away**; 
may the name of the Lord be **praised**.”

[Job 1:20-21 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **reaction** to tragedy / stress / pathos
+ when God **takes away** blessings

---

The Lord is full of **compassion** and **mercy**.

[James 5:11 (NIV)](# "ref")

>>>
final vindication of Job

---

# Do I **trust** in God's **compassion** enough to **wait** for His salvation?

---

Be **patient**, then, brothers and sisters, 
until the Lord’s **coming**.

See how the **farmer** waits for the land 
to yield its valuable **crop**, 
patiently waiting 
for the autumn and spring **rains**.

[8](# "ref")
You too, be **patient** and stand **firm**, 
because the Lord’s coming is **near**.

[James 5:7-8 (NIV)](# "ref")

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