August 17, 2010

"You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" James 5:8-9

Of all the virtues that are in short supply these days, patience must be near the top of the list. Who among us couldn't stand to be a little more patient? I see you raising your hand! Well, at least you are not like this guy:

A man in Los Angeles, California was arrested for negligent discharge of a weapon after shooting his toilet bowl five times with a 38 caliber handgun. He claims that he just got upset. He couldn’t take it any longer. His daughter had flushed a hairbrush earlier in the day and clogged the pipes. So he shot the offending toilet. I have no word on the toilet’s condition, but the man’s patience was long gone.

To protect your toilet or your cat or whatever else becomes the target of your impatience, I am sharing some insights from James 5 to help you develop in this vital area.

In the last post I pointed out how James encouraged you to Look Up And Be Courageous.

Today, he counsels you to Look In And Become Clean.

This insight is based on verses 8-9. Take a look with me.

Just be honest with yourself. Impatience and all the negative thoughts, attitudes and actions that come with it do not issue from a heart that is pure. So, your impatience is evidence that there needs to be some heart cleansing done. The guy in California didn't blast his toilet because he had an attack of maturity.

So, the intensely practical James deals with some solutions for the impatience problem. You must deal with it from the insight out.

V. 8 - "be patient" - the cure for impatience is to consciously and intentionally choose to act patient. Don't pick up the gun to shoot your toilet. Instead, pick up the plunger or pick up the phone to call a plumber. Those are the actions of a mature person concerned about practicing patience. Patience, like everything else in life, is mastered one decision at a time by the grace of God.

Think about the options. You can wait (impatiently) until you somehow manage to FEEL patient or you can choose to DO something patient. And, if you prove to yourself that you can do it once, then you know you can do it again!

V. 8 - "stand firm" - do you know what one of the hardest things is for impatient people to do? To stand still! James says stand firm! How do you stand firm? Find something firm and then stand there! What is more firm than your faith in God and His Word. In the context of this verse Paul is saying, "stand on the firm promise of Christ's return!" Know that He is in control. Know that your struggles and your suffering are not forever.

V. 9 - "Don't grumble against each other" - one of the things impatient people do is grumble. If you want to master impatience get a grip on your grumbling. Ever notice how impatient people are not only impatient with themselves they are impatient with others, too? James says to deal with that! You can stop yourself from grumbling and when you do you have dealt a blow against impatience.

How about this? While you are standing firm on the precious promises of God, why not rejoice that your Christian brothers also have the same promises!

In his counsel for dealing with impatience, James says, "Look inside and cleanse yourself from the causes of impatience." Memorize the promises of God. Believe in those promises. Cling to them! And when you know them and when you REALLY believe them it will help you with impatience because it is as though have already happened! When you wait ON God you wait WITH God!

Practice patience patiently while God removes the impatience through the power of His presence and His promises!

August 16, 2010

"Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near." James 5:7-8

My mother always told me, "Good things come in small packages." I always wondered if she said that because she is pretty tiny.

But in her case and in reference to the Book of James that we have been studying, it IS true.

In just five brief chapters James hits on some issues crucial to being an effective Christian and building a healthy church. I found it particularly timely for where FredWes is in the Summer of 2010.

One of the persistent themes of James is how to respond during suffering and struggles. Perhaps that was because these believers were facing both on a daily basis. Because they took a stand for their Christian faith they were targeted for abuse and discrimination. Even some within in the church were cheating them - as we just learned in the previous verses.

So, how should Christians respond in the face of suffering?

James offers four pieces of helpful advice here in the middle portion of Chapter 5.

The first thing he tells you is: Look Up And Be Courageous!

V. 7 says, "be patient". The word for "patience" is "makrothumeo". It literally means to wait! Wait with steadfastness. Wait with certainty. This is the same thought the Psalmist expressed when admonished "be still and know that I am God".

This is the same mindset you have when you hold on to your old clunker of a car for one more year knowing that at that time you will be able to trade it on a shiny new one!

The reason you can be patient and wait calmly and courageously is because you are certain of God's return. You live with certainty that one day He will return and all will be made right OR you will go to be will Him and suffering and strife will be over!

Another mindset you can develop to help you wait with patience is to understand that just like there are seasons in nature, there are seasons in life. Seasons come and go and change and it happens every year so you adjust and find things to enjoy about each season while you await the next one.

When life gets tough and you are struggling - LOOK UP! You can live courageously knowing that suffering is only for a season! You can be patient. You can be passionate. You can rest on His promises! You can live with purpose and power knowing that God has it all under control!

August 15, 2010

A well-worn dollar bill met a raggedy looking 20 dollar bill as they were about to be destroyed at the Federal Reserve. They twenty was telling the dollar bill of all the exciting places he had been in his long and full lifetime. After describing his great travels, the $20 dollar bill asked the $1 dollar bill, "What about you? Where have you been?" The $1 dollar replied, "Well, I've been to the Baptist church, the Methodist church, the Presbyterian church, the Episcopalian church the Church of God in Christ, the Catholic church, the Mormon church, the A.M.E. church, the Disciple of Christ church, The Wesleyan Church, the... "WAIT A MINUTE! WAIT A MINUTE !!", shouted the $20 dollar bill to the $1 dollar bill. "What's a church??"

GOOD QUESTION - What IS a church? What SHOULD it be? We have learning about that as we have made our way through James this Summer.

This morning we are going to study James 5:1-6 and examine our attitude toward material possessions.

I. THE PERSPECTIVE ON WEALTH, Vv. 1-3

The Bible nowhere condemns wealth. It just insists that the rich must be responsible, and aware of the perils of wealth. The most important aspect of money management is the control of our attitude towards it. Money is not “the root of all evil” as Paul is often misquoted. His actual words are, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). James did not consider it a sin to be rich. His concern was with the abuse of riches that caused God to be forgotten. Let me take a second and see what went wrong with the rich man.

• He hoarded everything he had. • Because he hoarded everything and would not give anything up, he cheated anytime he could so he could keep his wealth.

• His failure to pay his workmen resulted in their going hungry, possibly to the point of dying.

• He wasted his life on the goal of acquisition of wealth.

• He allowed possessions to consume his life completely.

Charles Swindoll in some of his writings pointed out there are different types of poverty:

First, there are those who are poor WITHOUT and poor WITHIN.

Second, there are those who are rich WITHOUT and rich WITHIN.

Third, there are those who are poor WITHOUT and rich WITHIN.

Fourth, there are those who are rich WITHOUT and poor WITHIN.

WHICH ONE OF THOSE DESCRIBES YOU?

II. THE PROBLEM WITH WEALTH, Vv. 3-6

James brings several charges against the unjust rich. He accuses them of insensitivity, injustice, indulgence and independence.
A. Insensitivity - vv. 2-3

James hated the insensitivity that failed to alleviate the needs of the unfortunate, while hoarding wealth for selfish pleasures or for no purpose at all. They were insensitive first, to proper priorities and values; and secondly to the needs of others.

There is the story of John G. Wendel and his sisters. Even though they had received a huge inheritance from their parents, they were some of the most miserly people of all time, they spent very little of it and did all they could to keep their wealth for themselves.John was able to influence five of his six sisters never to marry, and they lived in the same house in New York City for 50 years. When the last sister died in 1931, her estate was valued at more than $100 million. Yet, her only dress was one that she had made herself, and had worn for 25 years.The Wendels had such a compulsion to hold on to their possessions that they lived like paupers. Even worse, they were like the kind of person Jesus referred to "who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). Daily Walk, June 2, 1993.Or take Bertha Adams. She died in 1976 at the age of 71, on Easter Sunday in Palm Beach, FL. Coroner’s report ... she died of malnutrition, weighing 50 pounds. Begged for food. Her home was a "pigpen .. big mess!" They thought she died penniless. Two keys found among her belongings were to a couple of safe deposit boxes. In one box they found 700 shares of AT&T stock and $200,000. In the other they found $600,000 in cash.
To stockpile wealth demonstrates insensitivity to priorities. Worse, it shows insensitivity to people. James said earlier, “Anyone...who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (4:17). What a colossal sin to see others perishing in bitter need while you store up goods you can never use. In the end your wealth is lost and the poor remain destitute. How can there be such callous disregard for others?

B. Injustice - vv. 4a, 6

These rich were guilty of great injustice. They not only defrauded the poor workers, they paid off the judges and undermined the courts of justice. James charged them with no less than murder.

The rich also used their influence and social standing to oppose the poor who brought charges against them. “Condemn” (v. 6) is a judicial term and suggests that they may have perverted the legal processes to accumulate property and wealth. The wealthy often have political power and can buy what they want. A joke says, “The Golden Rule is that ‘Whoever has the gold makes the rules!’” The destitute workers had the just cause, but the courts were controlled by the affluent. James says, “You have condemned and murdered innocent men....”


The Lord Almighty is a name for the Omnipotent God of all power. He is deeply concerned about justice for the poor and insignificant. He cares for the downtrodden. He cares so much that He sent His Son to dwell among insignificant people. Jesus was born of a poor virgin in a borrowed barn and was buried in a borrowed tomb. He knows all about injustice.



One unknown writer described His ministry:The preacher never stopped talking about money.The congregation clutched their billfolds and squirmed.He told them not to worry so much about stuff that’ll rot.He told them that the folding stuff was not the currency to buy meaning and happiness.He singled out one man and told him to sell everything and then give the proceeds to the poor.He had them shaking their heads when he said, “Happy are the poor.”Some of the best-dressed stomped out, their noses in the air.A few of the wealthy and powerful slipped quietly into a backroom and had a contract put out on the young preacher’s life.And it only cost them thirty pieces of silver.


Jesus knows injustice.

C. Indulgence - v. 5

These selfish rich were flaunting their wealth by buying luxurious stuff in the face of other's suffering.

D. Independence

We’ve heard of people like that. People who hoard every penny they have, but never have the joy of spending it or giving it away. In those days wealth consisted primarily of food, garments and money. The wealthy ate well, dressed well and spent lavishly. James says, “Your wealth (probably referring to food) has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded.” They carefully accumulated foods, fashions, and fortunes, only to find them worthless. Things were valued so highly that they had no need for God.


Those are the things that God – and everyone else dislike about rich people! It’s not their wealth it what it tends to do to people who put too much trust in their riches.


III. PROSPERING WITH WEALTH

A. Make God Your Source

Change your affections – “Where your treasure is…….”

B. Make Serving God Your Course

Change your attitude – IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!

C. Make Stewardship Your Force

Change your approach – Honor God with the tithe & offerings

In 1985, Chuck Colson was on the Bill Buckley television program, talking about restitution and criminal justice. A few days later he got a call from Jack Eckerd, a businessman from Florida, the founder of the Eckerd Drug chain, the second largest drug chain in America. He saw him on television and asked him to come to Florida. He agreed Florida had a criminal justice crisis, would he come down and do something about it? And we did. We went around the State of Florida advocating criminal justice reforms, and everywhere we would go Jack Eckerd would introduce me to the crowds and say, "This is Chuck Colson, I met him on Bill Buckley’s television program. He’s born again, I’m not. I wish I were." Then he’d sit down.
About a year went by and I kept pestering Jack Eckerd about faith in Jesus. Eventually one day he read some things including the story of Watergate and the Resurrection out of my book, Loving God, he decided that Jesus was, in fact, resurrected from the dead. He called me up to tell me he believed. When he got through telling me what he believed I said, "You’re born again!"
e said, "Marvelous!" The first thing he did was to walk into one of his drugstores and walked down through the book shelves and he saw Playboy and Penthouse. He’d seen it there many times before, but it never bothered him before. Now he saw them with new eyes. He’d become a Christian.

He went back to his office. He called in his president. He said, "Take Playboy and Penthouse out of my stores. The president said, "You can’t mean that, Mr. Eckerd. We make $3M a year on them." Eckerd said, "Take them out of my stores." And in 1,700 stores across America, those magazines were removed from the shelves, because a man had given his life to Christ.
Colson called Jack Eckerd and asked "Did you do that because of your commitment to Christ?" He said, "Why else would I give away $3 M? The Lord wouldn’t let me off the hook." Isn’t that marvelous? God wouldn’t let me off the hook.And what happened after that is a wonderful sequel and a wonderful demonstration of what happens in our culture today. Jack Eckerd wrote a letter to all the other drugstore operators, all the other chains, and he said, "I’ve taken them out of my store, why don’t you take them out of yours?" Nobody answered him. So he wrote them more letters. Then Eckerd’s Drugs began to get floods of people coming in to buy things because they’d taken Playboy and Penthouse out. And so People’s Drug Store, and then Dart Drugs, and then Revco removed them from their shelves. While the pornography commission in Washington was debating what to do about pornography, across America, one by one, stores were removing them. And the 7-11 chairman, who sits on Jack Eckerd’s board, finally gave in, and 5,000 7-11 stores removed them. In 12 months, 11,000 retail outlets in America removed Playboy and Penthouse, not because somebody passed a law, but because God wouldn’t let one of His men off the hook. That’s what brings change.

Isn’t that an amazing story. Jack Eckerd risked losing $3M per year because a very wealthy man found true riches. That’s a great testimony about our faith in Christ and what we are compelled to do!
How about you? How is your heart toward you money and your material possessions? Do you own them or do they own you? Is your “stuff” more important to you than your salvation?

What would you have done if you were Mr. Eckard?

Are you trusting in your savings for your security? Do you spend more time checking the stock market than the Scriptures?

We are headed for economic times like we have never seen, wealth is going to disappear, everything you have worked for and depended on is going to be worthless,

What then?

TWO WAYS TO CHECK:

- YOUR DATE BOOK – How am I spending my time? What am I planning?
- YOUR CHECK BOOK – How am I spending my money? Am I a steward?

August 14, 2010

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." James 5:1-6

The venerable pastor, teacher, writer and seminary president, Charles Swindoll, identifies four types of rich and poor people.

First, there are those who are poor WITHOUT and poor WITHIN.

This could be the largest group of people in the world. I have looked into their hopeless eyes in remote villages in Africa. Children, young people, and adults so shackled by poverty they dare not dream or allow themselves the luxury of expectations. Life is so difficult for them that every day is a struggle as they wonder if it might be their last. The desparation they face as they fight to survive until the next uncertain day is surpassed only by the emptiness within. Far too many of these precious people live in futility and die in fear.

Second, there are those are rich WITHOUT and rich WITHIN.

Perhaps this is the smallest group of people in the world. These folks have attained a high level of financial and material success and the wealth that comes with it. All of their needs are met, their bills are paid and their future is assured. Their greatest challenge is protecting and growing their wealth. Because of their success and security they are able to lend assistance to others in need. Their motivations to help others comes from the spiritual joy they have found through their faith in Jesus Christ. Money is important to them but not paramount. Their wealth doesn't dictate or define their lives because they live by the truth of God's Word. It would please God if all of His children could live like this!

Third, there are those who are poor WITHOUT and rich WITHIN.

Another large group of people are those who have discovered the incomparable riches of God's grace in Christ Jesus. They are heirs of faith and joint-heirs with Jesus of all that belongs to the Father. But the resources they have on earth are very meager in comparison to the riches laid up in Heaven. Due to lack of opportunity or extenuating circumstances beyond their control, they struggle to make ends meet and every day is difficult. But, their worldly difficulties are made bearable by the personal presence of Jesus Who gives them peace and Who promises to "supply all their needs according to His riches in glory".

The final group is those who are rich Without but poor WITHIN.

This is the particular catagory of people James is addressing in this portion of Scripture. He deals harshly with them because of the trouble inflicted on others because of their greed. They used their material wealth to oppress others and to increase their personal power and control. Here is a short list of the indictments against people who fit in this catagory:

* They hoarded their riches while others around them were hurting

* They refused to help others despite their ability to do so. What they couldn't get by honest

means they acquired dishonestly.

* They padded their bank accounts by withholding wages due their workers. Those who were

toiling to gain their wealth were not being given their just wages.

* They focused all their time, talents and energy to gain and grow their wealth and no regard

for their eternal spiritual condition.

Because of their miserable spiritual state they are never able to enjoy the material advantages they enjoy.

As usual, Swindoll sums up the central truths of this passage. Everyone who lives and breathes fits in one of these four catagories.

Which one fits you?

Is this where you need to be?

Is this where God wants you?

What must you do?

August 13, 2010

"Now listen, you rich people," James 5:1

When James addresses "you rich people" it sounds like he assumes they know who they are.

That raises the question, "How do you define 'rich'?"

Are you rich?

Obviously, he was immediately addressing those who possessed material wealth. He was measuring wealth by their bottom line or their net worth.

But is that the best measure of wealth? I think James would say, "No!" He clearly states that material wealth corrodes and can corrupt the who holds it.

The real issue with material possessions is, "Do you own them or do they own you?"

One of the points James is attempting to communicate that it is not wrong to own material wealth but it IS a big problem when wealth owns you! You can have a huge net worth but be poor toward God. Spiritual poverty will rob you of the joy of properly benefiting from your fortune. Your stuff will own you and hold you captive. You will be riddled with guilt, greed, anxiety, insecurity, distrust, and worry. Your personal identity and self-image will be defined by what owns you - or Who owns you. Jesus told a story about a guy who did that and called him a "fool".

Is that how you want your life to be defined? Do you want your life to be measured by what you hoard or by who you help? As the old saying goes, "You can't take it with you." BUT you can send it ahead!

As you invest your time and your talents and your treasure in helping others and serving God, Jesus said you, "lay up treasures in heaven". That sounds good to me!

The road to riches begins here, according to Jesus, "Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:1-12

"Blessed" means "happy" or "complete" or "fulfilled".

Aren't those the things you really want from wealth?

So, who is it in the final analysis who determines who is rich? Your bottom line? You net worth? Or your relationship with God? Is it what you are storing up or is it what you are laying up?

August 12, 2010

"Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." James 5:4-6

Rich people seem to be easy targets for criticism. Many novels and movies have portrayed the wealthy as villains and bad guys.

Robin Hood stole from the rich to give to the poor. He was the good guy.

It is a little disingenuous of us to hassle the rich because who among us wouldn't choose to be rich given the opportunity.

In this portion of Scripture James gives us some insights on why the rich are often despised.

The Rich Tend To Show Insensitivity

These rich people were hoarding their riches while the less fortunate around them were hurting. Either they were out of touch with the needs of others or they just didn't care. Either way it does not endear them to anyone. At a time when they could have been helping others and relieving some suffering they were feathering their own nests.

Because they were insensitive and uncaring about the needs of others, they were resented by most of their neighbors.

The Rich Tend To Be Indulgent

While these rich were ignoring the hurting people around them they were living the good life and

enjoying themselves. They were living it up while others were just struggling to live at all. In the face of the suffering around them they were sitting fat and having fun. Rather than helping others out of their extra cash they were being excessive and extravagant in their luxurious lifestyle.

The Rich Were Creating Injustice

In order to be able to assure they had plenty of money to induldge their every desire, these wealthy folks were withholding wages owed to those who worked for them. Not only were they depriving others of what they had earned, they failed to lift a finger to defend those who were wrongly accused of an offense. Some were using their wealth to bribe the judges and corrupt the justice system. They were lending credence to the old joke about the Golden Rule meaning that those who have the gold make all the rules.

It is not hard to see why these wealthy people were despised and resented. Their behavior was reprehensible and for those who were believers, this behavior was sinful. But the question remained, was it their riches that corrupted them or was it their corrupt natures that misused their wealth?

James reminds us that spiritual wealth is far more important than financial wealth. Treasuring God and His will is the true source of wealth. Knowing God's luxurious love and His extravagant grace is the true measure of wealth. People who possess that overcome insensitity, give generously and do justice.

Are you rich toward God? If not, poor you!

August 11, 2010

"Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you." James 5:1-6

A wise person once told me that the way to check a person's priorities is to look at his check book and his date book. Where you spend your time and your money is very revealing as to where your heart is.

Therefore, it is not surprising that James deals with these two topics together. Granted, the verses are contained in different chapters but when they were written there were not these divisions.

As we already studied, you must be humble in your attitude toward time. You must understand the sovereignty of God, the Beginning and the End. Even though God stands above and beyond time, He controls it. He has numbered our days individually and He has numbered the days of man upon the earth. He spoke the world into existence and by His word it will end. That is the truth. It is a fact that must guide your attitude toward planning and time. James said you must plan your life in view of eternity and an eternal God.

So, if your heart is right your priorities will be right and your datebook will show it.

That same attitude must be reflected in your finances. Not only is God the Author of time He is the Giver of all good things. Jesus was clear in His teachings either God will be the Master of you money or your money will master you.

Because of the way we are wired we struggle with insecurity about the future and one strong source of sercurity is money and material wealth. Of course, when you obtain the money and material wealth then you have a whole new set of worries because you have to protect it and try to increase it. So, in the final analysis how much security is there REALLY in having money? That is the point of what James is teaching here in 5:1-6. He is acknowledging some of the negative issues that arise when your trust and confidence is based in materialism.

Jesus teaches more about money than He does any other single topic - more than about salvation and more than about heaven! Why, because He wants us to get our heart before our Source!

How much money will you have when you life on earth ends? If you die before you get your heart right with God, how much of your money would you be willing to give to get right with Him? With those questions in mind, what should your attitude be toward your money and your God?

If you knew that this was the last week you would spend on earth, how would your schedule change? What would you do differently? What would you NOT do? Who would you spend more time with? What would you give up?

A good way to do a quick and revealing spiritual evaluation is to check your date book - where are you spending your time? AND check your check book. How are you spending your money? Will you make some time this week to do that?