In this sermon from James 5:1-6, Pastor Mark preaches on wealth, money, and finance in the context of selfishness, stealing, and stewardship, ultimately conveying that God desires our hearts to be generous with the money He gives us.
How does faith work with your wealth?
BILL: In God We Trust?
During Civil War = increased religious zeal
· 11/13/1861 Rev. MR Watkinson – pastor Penn. requests God on currency
· 1861 Sec Chase responded, “Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins.”
· 1861 Sec Chase directed James Pollock, Director of Mint @ Phil. choose a motto
· 1864 In God We Trust appeared on coins
· 1951 In God We Trust appeared on bills
Powerful myth – 2 categories 1. Sacred 2. Secular
1. House: This church is God’s house, but so is your house
2. Job: Every Christian is in full-time ministry
3. $: You either worship money as your God or worship God with your money.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one & love the other, or he will be devoted to the one & despise the other. You cannot serve God & money.”
Selfishness: What’s Mine is Mine
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 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.
-Rich – ungodly not godly (like Boaz, Joseph Arimathea, Lydia)
-Hoarding – you have more than you need & do not give to others
- Clothes – rotting
- Gold/Silver – corroding
- =God – watching – 3 X eternity
:1 “miseries…are coming upon you”
:3 “fire” “the last days”
:5 “a day of slaughter”
There’s an invisible spiritual connection between your heart & wallet
Matt 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth & rust destroy & where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys & where thieves do not break in & steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
8 Money Personalities
1. The Hoarder – money gives me security
2. The Spender – money gives me rewards
3. The Avoider – money, and bills stress me out
4. The Hater – money is evil and dangerous
5. The Manipulator – money buys me influence/control
6. The Flaunter- money gives me status through possessions
7. The Scorekeeper – money is how we compete – like a sport or video game
8. The Giver – money is how I show God and people love
= Money Personalities set a family culture, & can cause strain in a marriage
Stealing: What’s Yours is Mine
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. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
=Defrauding (not paying after the harvest)
Landowners – Ungodly Rich vs Laborers – Godly Poor
Powerful Powerless
Rich Poor
Ruled the courts Ruined by courts
Attacking Not fighting back
Like Caesar’s family Like James family
Fattened for slaughter God hears & defends
= You either love money & use people, or you use the money to love people.
My Family History
-Coffin ships from Ireland, potato farmers, grew family biz & lost it
-Moved from ND to WA – working class (dad drywall, grandpa mechanic, me longshore)
-Only dad I remember in our neighborhood (parents generous – food, coat, baseball)
-Grace and I married in college & both have a gift of giving
-Kids – giving is normal, not giving is abnormal
Stewardship: What’s Mine is His
James 1:16-17 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…
James 4: 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
All that I am, and all that I have, is a gift that belongs to the Lord
God: Owner Me: Manager
#1. Steward Wisely
-Tithe God -Taxes Gov’t -Spend less than make -Save -Invest
# 2. Give Generously
= Worship (no one comes to worship empty-handed but brings “sacrifice”)
- “Firstfruits” (AZ worst $ Forbes & Wallet Hub)
- OT – 10% tithe + other offerings = 25+%
- 2 pockets – 1. Tithes 2. Offerings
SUMMARY
–We don’t give to get a blessing, we give to be a blessing
Acts 20:35 ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
Giving is transforming ($, time, compassion, words, deeds, forgiveness, etc.)