AVOIDING WRATH

I’ll do just about anything to avoid God’s wrath.

(James 5:1-6) Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

1. Release Our Wealth

(1-3) Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.

A. We are materially wealthy.

B. We are driven to reach for more.

C. We are to release our grip on our wealth.

(2 Timothy 3:2, 5) People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money... having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

(1 Timothy 6:10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

(Luke 12:48) From the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

2. Replenish The Poor

(5) You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

A. So much of the world suffers in poverty.

B. We are to give one tenth of our wealth back to God (tithe).

3. Restore The Innocent

(6) You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

A. Our culture has become a culture of death.

B. We are to restore our culture to a culture of life.