08.16.2009 James 4-5 Attitudes Toward Money and God's Will

SermonAudio

08.16.2009 Grace Summit Sermon - James 4-5 Attitudes Toward Money and God's Will from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

08.16.2009 Grace Summit Worship from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

There is much happening in our church and many opportunities to grow in our relationship with You. May our love for You grow and become more real. May our faithfulness be steady – speak to us now – in Your name we pray.
We are going through James – and we just have 2 weeks to go – the end of 4 and beginning of 5 today.
I want to start – not with a funny story –
Every morning, I turn on the television, and watch a few minutes of some of these TV preachers. One always starts with a funny story that I’ve heard 4 or 5 times. I have no funny stories today.
Let’s start by reading the passage –
James 4: 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are [just] a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, [you ought] to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that." 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows [the] right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Now, when we look at this passage, normally – we see it and talk about it and preach on it as instruction for determining God’s will for personal decisions in our life. And that is a practical application from this passage – and we will close our service with that today. BUT – this is the Book of James – and primarily, this passage, in context, is speaking about improper attitudes when it comes to money and wealth. Yes, there are some things we can glean from this about God’s will, but that is not what this is talking about. Improper attitudes about wealth and money is one of the primary themes of this book.
Ch 1:9 talks about attitudes toward the poor
2 – how we respond to those in need
4 – greed and materialism
End of 4 – right back in to the concept of our attitudes toward money –
13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."
That is the issue he is addressing – there are those pursuing wealth with a wrong attitude and motivation.
They are saying – we are going to go and we are going to make MONEY! We are going to make a profit – they are boasting about how they are going to accomplish this apart from the will of God. Their desire for profits has caused them to disregard God’s will
Let me read you a quote:
“Wealth can allow people an independence from God that can be dangerous to one’s spiritual health.”
This is really relevant in America – when we have no needs, we lose our need for God.

What is interesting – in 13 Come now, you who say,
James 5: 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! 4 Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, [and] which has been withheld by you, cries out [against you]; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and put to death the righteous [man;] he does not resist you.


Look – your money will fail you – you rich – and we must understand this is true for all. We may be looking at an economic collapse. If America DOESN’T go into economic collapse – eventually, God makes it clear – money will fail. Jesus said it – wealth fails the individual. You can only trust it so long before it lets you down. If you look throughout the history of the world – eventually, wealth fails. We will look at how to handle wealth.
We are doing Dave Ramsey’s financial peace university – we’ll be doing a preview in 2 weeks.
The reason we will go through this – it lays out biblical principles for handling money. I have gone through parts of it – and these are things that work regarding finances. Primarily – how to avoid and get out of debt.
How does this affect our attitudes toward money?
Back to James – they have a wrong attitude toward money.
I am going to list 5 wrong attitudes about money:
1) When it comes to money – we acts autonomously – like they did. When it comes to money – our attitude tends to be – “It is no one else’s business what I do with my money – including God.”
Some think: If we give to God, that’s all we need to do – but they have ignored His principles. If one comes to catastrophe – oftentimes it is because they have ignored God’s word.
This program can help you understand God’s principles for your own good.
2) We live in a culture of greed – I think that is clear – the economic collapse – the CEO’s that go on all kinds of trips… Simon Cowell being paid millions to be rude to bad singers…We want more things – we live in a culture of greed – consumerism – getting the consumer to buy, buy, buy. It just creates more greed. When is enough enough? They ask rich people – and the answer is “just a little more” – that mentality affects all of us.
Give me neither poverty nor riches
Prov. 30:8 Give me neither poverty nor riches ; Feed me with the food that is my portion, 9 Lest I be full and deny [Thee] and say, "Who is the Lord?" Or lest I be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.
What would that do for the economy if people thought that way?
Hebrews 13: 5 Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,"
3) Immediate gratification. We are trained – we have to have it now. He talks about their lust – their desire – the desire to have it now. Where that affects us is in the area of debt. People believe they need it now and go into tremendous debt. I think the average credit card debt is in the 10’s of thousands of dollars! There is nothing wrong with borrowing money for a house ---but the bible makes it clear - if you are in debt, you should do EVERYTHING in your power to get out of it. As soon as you can.
The Bible says the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.
Cindy and I went through his debt snowball – except for house debt, which is really tough to get out of unless you get an inheritance or win the lottery which you are not supposed to play anyway and you don’t want an inheritance…
But we have to be careful to not use debt to get what we want. We need to be content. I understand – we need cars. I get that. But you don’t need a new car every 2 years. Maybe you do, but if it causes you to go into debt, you don’t

The 4th improper attitude – responsibility and the entitlement mentality.
Ramsey talks about when he was 12 – “Dad, I need some money…” – How old are you? I am your son? How old are you? I need money. No, you don’t need money – you need a job!
Jesus was a carpenter for 30 years and only did ministry for 3! That used to be the thinking of valuing good hard work.

Sometimes we get an entitlement mentality even with God. God promises to meet our NEEDS. If we have food and covering with these we shall be content.

We have books and books about God providing what we want and lust after, but that is just not true – he never promises that – He won’t give you what you lust after – unless it is to give you a wasting disease – and I’m sure you don’t want that!

5th) – Generosity. I think this is – if we have the proper attitude when it comes to generosity, we can correct the other attitudes. Even those who tithe sometimes have the attitude of “I give this little bit to God and I am fine” – but where does it say that? We are responsible for all of our finances before God. We get in our mindset that we don’t need to do more Think of the widow who gave all she had to live on! That would not be in accordance with all these financial principles we are learning in these classes. But Jesus told her story.

2 Cor. 8:1 Now, brethren, we [wish to] make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3 For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability [they gave] of their own accord, 4 begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints

WOW! Think of what that is saying – what an attitude! Here are these extremely poor people begging Paul to take their money! That is unheard of.

“We have found consumerism in America – Money – addictive – and as a result, following Christ, inconvenient.”

Some of the things Christ asks of us are inconvenient because of our lifestyles and priorities.

Now, for the second part of this message –
James 4: 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit." 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are [just] a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, [you ought] to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.
1)
If you want to understand God’s will – allow God the final say in your life. Jesus in the Garden: Not My will, but Yours.
You cannot understand God’s will unless H has the final say.
“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven…”
Let me do on earth what you would have me do.
2)
Follow God’s revealed will always.
What is God’s revealed will? The Bible.
If you do these two things – you have 98% of what you need to live your life.
Most of the rest of the stuff is not so important.
I don’t mean that irreverently – but if you find yourself doing all you can from this book – I think you are doing well
3)
Pay attention to cautions in life – advice and counsel of others. We need to learn to pay attention to that.

1 way to say this – if you have been married for 3 or 4 years, you need to get counsel from those who have been married for 30-40 years.

When you have small children – it is good to talk to those who have older children.

We cut out all the wisdom that comes. The Bible – the aged are to be honored and to learn from.
Yes, we need to look at realities we have to face.
4)
Do what you think is best! If you do the first 3, then you know what – don’t worry about it and do what you think is right – forget about the agonizing. If you are waiting for God to come down and say – YES, THIS IS IT – it is not going to happen.

Trust that God has given you wisdom and understanding then make a decision.

5) be able to go with the flow – adjust quickly -
As you are moving – sometimes you have to take a left or right.
Thy word is a lamp unto my ……? HIGHWAY? No – to your feet! You have to make adjustments.
We need to be cautious.
17 - 17 Therefore, to one who knows [the] right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.
With all of these things – be it in financials or any other area – as we put these pieces together – and God reveals to us – once you know it, it is time to act. If you don’t – it is sin. It is not just – oh, I decided not to do that… thee right thing – and don’t do it – it is sin.

Lord, we thank You and ask You to help us to have a clear and deep understanding of your will for our lives. Lord, we want to be – like in the garden – not my will but yours – to have that heart – knowing you can speak to us – make your will clear – in Your name we pray – amen.