Money is Ministry

Jim Oesterwind

Pursuit of Heavenly Wisdom • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

0 ratings

· 39 views

An attempt to challenge believers to be careful stewards of those things God allows them to have. We cannot hoard wealth or take advantage of others in order to gain it. We must view money as ministry opportunity.

Notes

Transcript

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Introduction

is indirectly addressed to believers. It is directly addressed to those who live for riches and die in their sin. Yet by bringing up this subject of the abusive power of wealthy people, it highlights the great threat of judgment which will come upon those who oppose God.

is a strong warning to believers. It is directly addressed to those who live on the earth in pleasure and luxury only to fatten their hearts for the day of slaughter. By bringing up the subject of the abusive power of wealthy people, James highlights the great threat of judgment which will come upon all those who oppose God.

James is certainly speaking up for the disadvantaged. He knew the Law of Moses. God demanded impartiality and fair treatment of those who labor and of those who are poor. For instance, God said in the Law that money should be lent by the wealthy to the poor without interest.

When you read this passage, the rich are not condemned and judged for being rich. They are condemned and judged for hoarding that wealth. We might fall into the same trap if we forget that money is actually opportunity for ministry.

“Hear this, you who swallow up the needy, and make the poor of the land fail, saying: “When will the New Moon be past, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, falsifying the scales by deceit, that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals— even sell the bad wheat?” The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their works.” (, NKJV)

While we are not communists stirring the working class to rise up and revolt, we do proclaim that the wrath of God will come upon those who exploit workers and the poor. If the wealthy disregard the needs of the suffering, God will judge.

“In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, but in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.” ()

Riches are a blessing from God. The more we have, the more expansive our opportunity for ministry …the greater our responsibility. James warns the rich to weep and howl for their miseries are coming upon them. It makes us wonder if riches are a blessing or a curse? God does bless the righteous with riches. All of us have every need supplied for us by God. But for those who make a god of wealth, it becomes a snare and a curse for them. Such a person lays up treasure for himself, but he is not rich toward God ().

It is not a sin to be rich; is a sin to be rich like our next passage in James (read ). The rich described in this passage should weep and howl because of their orientation toward their wealth.

The rich oriented are oriented in four ways on this earth. They should weep and howl because of the miseries they are yet to face at the future judgment. When they face this judgment, the opportunity for repentance will not be there for them. God scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble (). God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (). The rich man in our text has condemned and murdered the just man. It may be that the just man does not resist the proud man (). However, God resists the rich man in the end, because he is scornful and proud. Here are the four orientations from the text:

The rich oriented in these four ways should weep and howl because of the miseries they are yet to face at the judgment. When they face this judgment, the opportunity for repentance will not be there. God scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble (). God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (). The rich man in our text has condemned and murdered the just man. It may be that the just man does not resist the proud man (). However, God resists the rich man because he is scornful and proud.

They hoard wealth (5.1-3). They steal wealth (5.4). They bask in wealth (5.5). They kill for wealth (5.6).

The rich hoard wealth (5.1-3).

The rich steal wealth (5.4).

The rich bask in wealth (5.5).

The rich kill for wealth (5.6).

Hoarding Wealth ()

A great reversal will take place at the future judgment. Of course, it might even take place before the future judgment comes. The rich who had more than they knew what to do with will suddenly find themselves striped not only of the wealth they hoarded, but also of any hope of escaping eternal judgment. Believers who are impoverished need to remind themselves often of this great reversal.

A great reversal will take place at the judgment. The rich who had more than he knew what to do with will suddenly find himself striped not only of the wealth he hoarded, but also of any hope of escaping eternal judgment. Believers who are impoverished need to remind themselves often of this great reversal.

Paul wrote, "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life" ().

Instead of hoarding wealth, the rich need to be ready to give and willing to share the wealth God entrusted to them. They ought not store up or hoard wealth, but rather they ought to store up a good foundation for the time yet to come. They must lay hold of an eternal quality of life by using temporal treasure to increase their eternal portfolio of good works and service toward others. Wealth then becomes a tool for ministry for such a person. If we have too much of it, it simply means we are not busy ministering with it. Wealth is not to be hoarded, but given away and shared.

Miseries are coming upon those who hoard wealth and are outside of Christ. Therefore, they should weep and howl. "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with [Babylon, the epitome of the worldly cities] will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore" ().

Those who are selfishly rich and have hoarded rather than shared wealth have only judgment awaiting them in eternity.

James continues, "Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten" (). Hoard wealth and it will rot. Store away the finest clothing, and the moths will find it. You cannot wear moth-eaten clothing. You cannot use money that has rotted away. Why do the rich hoard wealth? It is because wealth offers them a false sense of security.

Jesus taught us that the deceitfulness of riches, this false sense of security because we hoard wealth, chokes the word out of our lives. The word becomes unfruitful in its orientation toward us. It's not that God's revelation is dull; it's that we who receive it are dull. Riches are deceitful in this way, luring us away with their false whispers of security. Jesus also taught that our desires for things choke out the word in the same way. The riches and revelation are not the problem; we as the receivers of riches and revelation are the problem.

As Paul wrote, "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition" ().

Jesus said, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” ()

James put it this way: "Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days" (). The startling phrase, "Eat your flesh like fire" speaks to the pain of eternal judgment to those who hoarded temporal wealth. There is wailing and gnashing of teeth in the furnace fires of future judgment. Concerning Hell, Jesus taught:

“And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—where ‘Their worm does not die And the fire is not quenched.’” ()

They have heaped up treasure in the last days. They hoard it for the future and the future only holds fiery condemnation for them. They forget that money is ministry. It’s temporal value must be exchanged for something which endures …that which has eternal value.

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.” ()

A great reversal is coming. Many are treasuring up wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (). Instead of sharing wealth with the needy; they hoard it. They fail to recognize how needy they are.

Resist steadfastly in the Spirit this urge to hoard wealth. Then you'll receive grace from God. Give into the urge to hoard wealth, and God will resist you.

Stealing Wealth ()

“Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” ()

“Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.” (, NKJV)

Men worked hard in the fields of the wealthy. They deserved their wages, but they went unpaid. The wealthy used fraudulent means to avoid paying them. Nobody became an advocate for these working men. Both the wages and workers cry out in the text before us:

These wages cry out because they are used in a way that they shouldn't have been used. They cry out against the rich who have stolen them away to use in an unintended way. The wages cry out just as the blood of righteous Abel cried out. They cry out for justice.

The reapers cry out as well. They cry out to the LORD of Sabaoth or the LORD of the Armies. They have been cheated. The rich steal from them and no one is there to protect them. So they cry to the One who can. And the LORD shall hear their cry and judge those who have stolen the wealth of others.

The workers cry out as well. They cry out to the LORD of Sabaoth or the LORD of the Armies. They have been cheated. The rich steal from them and no one is there to protect them. So they cry to the One who can. And the LORD shall hear their cry and judge those who have stolen the wealth of others.

Many who desire to be rich cheat and steal from those who work hard to make them successful. Money is not a means for ministry; instead, it becomes a means for building some temporal Babylon. We invite the judgment of God when we live for the wealth of this world. Resist steadfastly in the Spirit this urge to steal wealth by giving wealth away. Then you'll receive the greater grace of God’s riches. Give into the temptation to steal wealth, and God will resist you.

The rich often hoard wealth, steal wealth, and thirdly...

Basking in Wealth ()

“You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.” ()

“You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.” (, NKJV)

The operative words "on the earth" are ominous for those storing up wrath for the day of slaughter or when the day judgment comes. This could be in the temporal realm, but it will most certainly be in the eternal realm.

These described live in pleasure, luxury, and self-indulgence. They have enriched themselves at the expense of the downtrodden. They live decadent lives while their poor workers are afflicted with great hardship. The LORD shall "pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter" ().

Of course, unbelieving Jews that were rich would experience the wrath of the Roman empire in AD 70. Certainly the wealthy had much to lose when it all came crashing down around them. But the emphasis of James is particularly on a yet future judgment.

Resist steadfastly in the Spirit this urge to bask in wealth by understanding its allure is deceptive. When you do, you'll receive the greater grace of God’s glory. Bask in the glory of God or God will resist you.

The rich often hoard wealth, steal wealth, and bask in their wealth. Finally, there is....

Killing for Wealth ()

“You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.” ()

“You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.” (, NKJV)

This verse identifies the downtrodden with our Lord Jesus. The wealthy and religious condemned the Lord Jesus. They murdered the Just One. He didn't resist them, but went silently as a Lamb to the slaughter.

But the wealthy here have used their power and prestige to influence even the courts against their workers. They did this by showing partiality.

“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” ()

They've dishonored the poor man and drag them into the courts (). The exercise of power by the powerful against the powerless is in full view here.

They are responsible for depriving men of their wages. In so doing, they commit murder. But how is it murder? When you lose the ability to provide for your family, the family grows weak, is malnourished, and some actually die. The heartless employers are responsible for great suffering and even death.

Conclusion

The powerless cannot resist. But remember that God gives grace to weak, powerless people. However, the LORD resists the proud and powerful.

We cannot preach the social gospel of the early 20th century, but neither can we allow fear of a social gospel keep us from fulfilling :

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” ()

Many Christians have used fear of the social gospel to excuse them from fulfilling the Second Great Command. Here’s something we should remember: we can preach the Gospel AND meet the needs of the poor. These are not mutually exclusive tasks. As Jesus said,

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” ()

James preached and lived the same message that Jesus did. We must serve the disadvantaged and downtrodden. We must accomplish the will of God in this. We don't need a social gospel. We simply need the Gospel which meets every demand of society.

We are all very wealthy. Money is opportunity for ministry. When the poor and downtrodden cry out to God, He hears them. But do we hear them? Do we hear the LORD this morning?

Related Media

Related Sermons