Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
Emotion Tone
Anger
0.12UNLIKELY
Disgust
0.06UNLIKELY
Fear
0.09UNLIKELY
Joy
0.61LIKELY
Sadness
0.55LIKELY
Language Tone
Analytical
0.68LIKELY
Confident
0UNLIKELY
Tentative
0.33UNLIKELY
Social Tone
Openness
0.89LIKELY
Conscientiousness
0.64LIKELY
Extraversion
0.27UNLIKELY
Agreeableness
0.63LIKELY
Emotional Range
0.61LIKELY
Tone of specific sentences
Tones
Emotion
Language
Social Tendencies
Anger
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9
Introduction
Tonight, we are back into our study of James.
As might recall, this opening section of James 5 is directed at rich believers.
Yes, there are rich believers.
The fact is that most American are quite rich compared to the rest of the world.
God has blessed us greatly.
Unfortunately, as American believers, we often do not use our wealth as God intended.
Thus, James 5 is very applicable to us and to today.
Now, this month is our Missions Emphasis Month.
During the month, our focus is on evangelism both at home and abroad.
A task that God has adequately equipped every believer to accomplish.
There is therefore a sense of stewardship associated with evangelism.
Are we being good stewards of all that God has given us in our duty to give the gospel message to all who will hear?
That is a fundamental question each of us must answer.
It is interesting that this year during our Missions Emphasis we find ourselves in James 5. This first section deals with stewardship.
On a particular note, it is a reminder of consequences.
Unfaithful stewardship of money results in some dire consequences.
Two weeks ago, we considered some of those consequences as we studied verses 1-3.
Let’s read them again before we get to this evening’s text.
There are a number of things we learned from these verse in our last study.
They were the following points.
Don’t Seek to Hoard More
- “weep and how for your miseries that shall come upon you” - The point is that when we pursue riches there are many “miseries” that come along with that pursuit.
In fact, most rich people are quite miserable for a myriad of reasons.
Use What God Has Given You
- “your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten” - The point is that all earthly possession are temporary.
Accumulating wealth is a useless activity.
You can’t take anything with you in death.
All that you accumulate and leaven behind will be destroyed and consumed.
It is better to take what you have and use it for Him.
Misusing What God Has Given Condemns the Rich Believer
- “shall be a witness against you” - The point is that all of us, including rich believers, will stand before God one day to gave an account of our stewardship.
What we have done with what God has entrusted to us will stand as a “witness against” us on that day.
Therefore, we must be extremely careful not to MISUSE what He has given us.
Don’t let your money sit.
Instead, use it for Him.
Now we come to our text for tonight.
The Holy Spirit continues to speak to those who are rich.
By the way, this means all of us.
Even though you might think you are poor, the poor in America lives much better than some rich people in third world countries.
So, on a global scale, you have a lot that God has entrusted you.
So please don’t pass the buck this evening.
God is speaking to all of us through His Word.
What is that He wants us to know this evening from our text?
The first thing He wants us to know and understand is this.
Carefully Consider How You Achieve Your Wealth
Note again verse 4.
People often cheat others so that they might be rich.
Here, in this verse, the Holy Spirit points this out.
He describe such actions stating, “the hire…which is of you kept back by fraud.”
The entire phrase “which is…kept back by fraud” is a compound verb in Greek.
It has the idea of cheating someone out of what is owed them.
Thus, the rich seek to get richer by cheating hard working individuals of their wages.
What is then the result?
Those who are cheated “crieth.”
Their cries enter “the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.”
In other words, God is quite aware of the situation.
He knows the rich believer is doing wrong.
How does He know?
The cries of those wronged reach His ears and He hears.
It is interesting that the Holy Spirit uses the title “Lord of sabaoth” here.
From Hebrew, it is translated the “Lord of hosts” or the “Lord of armies.”
A phrase we find often in the Old Testament.
Here we find this title used by Hannah as she poured out her heart unto God.
You will note that she suffered greatly at the hand of Peninnah, the other wife to Elkanah, Hannah’s husband.
She was grieved greatly that God did not bless her with children.
So, in her grief, she cried out to the “Lord of host” or, as we see in our text, the “Lord of sabaoth.”
Here is another example.
In this instance, David is facing the great giant and enemy of Israel, Goliath.
David marches out to face him realizing that he is nothing compared to this massive man of war.
Goliath comes out with a great sword, spear, shield, and fully armored.
He was seasoned soldier having slain many enemies.
All of Israel cowered at his presence.
Out comes puny little David with nothing more than a sling and a few stones.
David understood that he was nothing.
However, he also understood that the “Lord of hosts” was mightier than any man including a massive man of war.
David walks out to face Goliath knowing the “Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” would fight for him that day.
Now, we go back to our text and we see a similar situation like Hannah and David.
These laborers could do nothing about the treachery they were experiencing.
Yet, they knew to call upon the “Lord of sabaoth.”
They willingly relied upon Him to answer their prayer and make right the wrong they suffered at the hand of a rich believer.
Therein lies the issue.
The rich believer should know better.
Yet, his desire for accumulated earthly wealth drives him to gain more even at the expense of others.
He resorts to stealing and defrauding so that he might fill his own lustful desire.
Scripture has much to say about financial impropriety.
It is wrong for a believer to lie so that they might gain riches.
Note the comparison listed here.
They are a person seeking death.
Again, it is wrong for a believer to oppress or harass others to gain riches.
Wow, here is interesting description of the person who steals so they might be rich.
They are fools and are compared to “the partridge” sitting on an egg knowing it will not hatch.
It is foolish endeavor.
It is wrong for a believer to build his estate (house) using fraudulent (unrighteous) means.
Note something else interesting here.
If you going to use your neighbor, then pay him.
It is wrong to ask for a person’s help and not be prepared to pay them for their labor.
Those who disobey God and seek riches through dishonest means God will smite them with His own hand.
I am pretty sure I don’t want that in my life.
God remembers each person, especially the believer, who is dishonest in their dealings with others.
< .5
.5 - .6
.6 - .7
.7 - .8
.8 - .9
> .9