16th November 2024

16th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 5v1-6)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Despite the abundance of Gospel preaching in Northern Ireland there are still many people who believe dangerous error. What do I mean? The average Ballynahinch Protestant believes that he/she is going to heaven because that’s where all but the very worst people go. This is a false “gospel” and yet I see it’s corrosive impact everywhere. Strangely there are others whose theology owes more to Hinduism or Buddhism than Christianity.


Some believe in karma which is a theory which says “you reap what you sow”. Such individuals have done really well for themselves and their abundance of wealth allows them to live an incredibly conformable life. What is the reason for their success? They are. They did the work, they worked the hours and they are entitled to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Let us be clear, money is not sinful, it is a gift from God which is to be used for His glory. Even so, there are many whose hearts have been tragically captured by pounds, shillings and pence. They don’t need God, they have saved themselves by their wealth and they live with no fear of tomorrow.


As the final chapter of James begins, the subject of money once again appears on the horizon. In James 2, the church received a rebuke for how they were more partial to the rich rather than the poor. The rich man was welcomed in the fellowship and given the best seat whilst the poor man was shunned and treated abysmally. However, in chapter 5 James looks outside the church to critique the rich who act as if they are kings of all they survey.


Once more, money is not sinful and not all rich people are wicked but there were those in James’ day who thought nothing about withholding wages from their workers (v4). Their actions essentially condemned and murdered the righteous person (v6) for how can anyone live if they are constantly denied their due recompense? These righteous men and women did nothing to deserve their treatment and nor did they offer any resistance to the rich man (v6b). Even so, their cries had reached the ears of Almighty God (v4b).


Sometimes all of us act as if God is both blind and deaf. The wicked seem to prosper and there is no justice in this world. But the reality is that although justice moves slowly, it will be done when Christ returns. James believed in the return of Jesus and so he counselled the wicked rich to weep and howl in anticipation of the misery that was to come (v1). Why? They lived to lay up treasure for themselves (v3b), they existed in luxury and self-indulgence (v5a) but they had not considered their relationship with Christ. Instead of preparing to meet with the Lord they had made themselves like sacrificial lambs growing fat and moving endlessly to the butcher (v5b). 


Money can’t buy happiness, money can’t make us right with God and ultimately money cannot protect us from the judgement to come. James speaks clearly and reminds all of us that earthly possessions have a nasty habit of disappearing before our eyes. Riches rot and garments attract the moth (v2), indeed the corrosion of the rich man’s wealth will act as evidence against him in the final judgement and see him consumed (v3). If gold could speak it would say “You fool! You have trusted in a metal which cannot save!” If a suit of fine clothes could talk it would say “You fool! You loved me and despised Christ!"


These are verses directed to the unsaved yet wealthy individual who does what he likes and never considers eternity. If that describes you, then my friend my you discover the endless riches of Christ. He is the greatest treasure and saving faith in Him is worth more than the finest gold. All that you have will be lost, make sure that you don’t follow that path.


But to my fellow Christians, to my heart and yours - let us not read these verses with arrogance but instead with watchfulness that we are not captured by the love of money. Wealth and possessions are so seductive and the love of them can quickly take root in our soul. Be careful that we do not value gifts over the Giver. I think we would quickly say that Jesus is our greatest treasure - may this be proved true in our attitude to silver and gold. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? The souls of believers are, at their death, made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves until the resurrection.