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THE LIFE WE LIVE FOR James 5:1-6
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The Life We Live For Our study of James enters it’s final leg as we dive into chapter 5 James has taught many lessons that helps the Christian in their daily walk Chapter 5 is just as full of those lessons as the previous 4 chapters were
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The Life We Live For James begins chapter 5 with some scathing words for those who are rich Those who James is referring to were probably not the faithful Christians who were holding fast It is more than likely the rich Jewish religious elitist of that day
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The Life We Live For Remember James had already mentioned those with money He first spoke of them in chapter 1 and said the rich would fade away in his pursuits He also spoke of the rich in chapter 2 as they came into the assembly
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The Life We Live For The rich oppressed them, drug them into the courts and blasphemed the name Christian At the end of chapter 4 he even speaks to those who seek to be rich Those who are rich might get a little uncomfortable with what James says
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The Life We Live For James isn’t saying all this because they are rich There have been many rich men who were good men (Job, Abraham, David, Joseph of Arimethea) They were in trouble here over what they did with their wealth
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The Life We Live For The question for us is not whether we have wealth The question is what will we do with it? Are we living for this physical life, or are we living for a life after this one? Here’s some dangers inherit with riches…
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The Life We Live For 1. Money can’t buy everything Sure money can be used to buy a lot of things Some of those things can bring temporary happiness and satisfaction However, it will never buy those things which last
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The Life We Live For 1. Money can’t buy everything Solomon said those with money have an endless pursuit (Ecc. 5:10, 12) Money cannot buy salvation either Simon the sorcerer tried to buy the power of God (Acts 8:18-20) It’s a free gift (Rom. 6:23)
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The Life We Live For 1. Money can’t buy everything Destruction comes for those who are not rich towards God (Lk. 12:20-21) It’s sad to lose one’s soul over worldly things (Mk. 10:23-24) Neither an abundance of money or a lack of will get one to heaven
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The Life We Live For 2. Riches are temporary The bible speaks over and over again about not putting stock into that which is temporary Jesus made it clear when He told us not to lay up treasures on earth (Matt. 6:19-21) Those James spoke to were storing up earthly treasures (vs. 2-3)
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The Life We Live For 2. Riches are temporary “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God…” (I Tim. 6:17) “Do not love the world or the things in the world…and the world is passing away…” (I Jn. 2:15-17)
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The Life We Live For 3. Riches cause corruption Remember what James said about those who were rich in chapter 2? Paul said the love of money was a root of all kinds of evil (I Tim. 6:10) Here they were not paying their workers fair wages, they had condemned and murdered
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The Life We Live For 3. Riches cause corruption Greed is one big problem for those who find themselves with riches The COI were accused of robbing God in Malachi 3 Hebrews 13:5 tells us to be content with what we have
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The Life We Live For 4. Riches can take our eyes off Jesus Many people get caught up in earthly affairs that distract them from what is really important Chasing after this worlds goods is one big distraction That’s why we are warned over and over to keep our focus
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The Life We Live For 4. Riches can take our eyes off Jesus We are admonished to keep our eyes focused on Jesus as we run this race (Heb. 12:1-2) Paul reminds us to seek the things that are above and to set our minds on those things (Col. 4:1-2) Satan wishes to distract us
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