The Advent of Peace: The Coming of the Prince of Peace

“The Advent of Peace”

Isaiah 9:2-7

The Big Idea:  Last Sunday we transitioned from Thanksgiving to Advent by focusing on the “Advent of Hope.” We have confidence that God is good, and that he is working, and that even when we don’t understand we anticipate expectantly the unfolding of His plan. We believe God. We trust Him. We have hope. This week our advent celebration turns to the theme of “peace.”  In the light of our experience, the angels’ announcement on that first Christmas morning might seem strange in Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Perennial tensions in the mid-east. Saber rattling between North and South Korea.  Violence on the streets of American cities. Unrest in countries like Haiti and Brazil.  Peace on Earth?  We see conflict between nations, struggles in the work place, problems in our homes and families, even divisions in our churches. Peace on earth? It may not look like it from our perspective!  Even Jesus said in Matthew 10:34, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” How can we understand the angels’ announcement of “peace on earth” in the light of our experience?

“Peace” can have several meanings in Scripture. One is indeed “an absence of war or violence” but that is usually only one small facet of what is meant by the biblical idea of peace. It is quite obvious that the day when swords will be hammered into plowshares is an aspect of “peace” that is still future. We can still have peace, even now. The Hebrew word “Shalom” is explained by one scholar as “The state of fulfillment that results from God’s presence.” This is what expressed in the Aaronic benediction in Number 6:24-26: “The LORD bless you and keep you;  ²⁵ the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;  ²⁶ the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

        “Peace” relates to the idea that was expressed when God looked at His creation, before the fall, and pronounced it “good,” tob. God who is holy and perfect was in perfect fellowship with his creation, no sin, no separation. There was peace. That peace was disrupted by the fall, and in the fullness of time the arrival of the Prince of Peace, according to promise, meant that fellowship can be restored, reconciliation between God and those who would believe. 

The Big Idea: “Got problems? The Son of God took upon himself a human nature in order to give his life so that we could experience true peace.”

I. The PURPOSE of Advent: Peace on earth, peace with God, peace in our hearts, peace forever (Isa 9:2-5). Humankind was lost, powerless against the darkness.

         First of all the prophet speaks about the great need of humankind (v.2). “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.”  Our study in John’s gospel showed the importance of the theme of “light and darkness.” There was a moral, spiritual element to it:  “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).  Why don’t we have peace on earth? James asked and answered the question when he said: “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this: that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1). Conflict starts in the human heart. Jeremiah said “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jer 17:9).  The prophet is describing a dark place, and that is the depth of the depravity of the human heart. We are all sinners. Last week one of our deacons led the devotional at the Wednesday night prayer meeting focusing on Psalm 53. We read there in the first couple of verses, “… there is none who does good.  ² God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.  ³ They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” That is pretty clear, how many of us are sinners? Every last one, by birth and by choice (Paul quotes this passage in Romans 3:10f).

        The good news came in the promise of deliverance in Isaiah 9:3-5.  Verse 5 describes a time when the Light shining in the darkness will bring “peace on earth”: “…For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.” Though “peace on earth” is not yet our experience, that day is coming, that is our sure hope, the enemies of Christ will be put under his feet and peace will reign, at last.  Because of His coming, because of the reality of His presence for those who trust Him we can already experience peace in our hearts, a peace that passes understanding. Have you got problems? The Son of God took upon himself a human nature in order to give his life so that we could experience true peace.

II. The PERSON Advent: The Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6). God sent his Son for us. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

         “For unto us a child is born…” The prophet is assuming a physical, historical, human birth. God the Son took upon himself a human nature.  There was an early heresy that the church confronted called “Docetism.” The idea was that Jesus didn’t really take a full human nature, He only appeared to be human.  The Bible makes it clear that the eternal Son took a human nature, and the divine and human natures were one in the person of Christ.  The technical term is the “hypostatic union.”  Paul described this act in his letter to the Philippians when he wrote in Philippians 2:6-7  “…although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,  ⁷ but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men…” Alfred Edersheim reflected on this when he wrote,

“That on such a slender thread as the feeble throb of an infant life, the salvation of the world should hang—and no special watch care over its safety, no better shelter be provided it than a stable, no other cradle than a manger! And still it is ever so. On what slender thread has the continued life of the church often seemed to hang; on what feeble throbbing that of every child of God—with no visible means to ward off danger, no home of comfort, no rest of ease…” 

So we have a Prince and High Priest who understands, who can sympathize with our weakness and empathize with our pain. He was tempted in all points as we are, yet without sin. But peace on earth? Why then did Jesus warn, “In the world you will have tribulation…”? The promise of “peace” begins in our heart, it is peace with God and the peace of God. Paul told the Romans 5:1, “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  And then we read in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  We read more about that in Ephesians 2:14-17,

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility  ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,  ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.  ¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.”

For Jew and Gentile alike the way to peace is through Jesus Christ.

        The prophet Isaiah spoke of the birth of the Child, and then in the next phrase says “…unto us a Son is given…” A Son, handed over as a gift. This is not only parallel with the previous phrase, but it expounds on a couple of elements. One, the child would be a son. (In our day of sonograms that may seem like a small factor, but God’s plan would be accomplished). Secondly, he was “given.” The term used in John 3:16 expresses the same idea: in John God gave His Son, in Isaiah, the passive form, the Son was “given.”  As Paul said, “God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.” John in his first letter said, “This is how God showed his love among us, He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him…” (I John 4:9).

          The prophet Isaiah, writing 700 years earlier, goes on to give more information about the coming One:  “…and the government will be upon his shoulders…” He is the Ruler of creation, Lord of all, and His Kingdom will come. This hope is not exclusively future.  Even now we’ve been transported from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of the Son… (Col 1:13).

       The litany of titles that follow express aspects of who He is: “And his name will be called, Wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father…”

       He is a Wonderful counselor.  The Holy Spirit is described as our “Parakletos” in the upper room discourse in John, He is our Comforter, our Helper and Advocate. In I John 2, the same word is applied to Jesus. He is our parakletos with the Father.

       Here He is also described in the unmistakable language of deity: mighty God, everlasting Father… Think about it: God is on your side, He is at your side, to help, guide, and protect. So you don’t need to be overwhelmed or despair: if God is for us, who can stand against us?

       He is finally called the “Prince of Peace” – The Prince of Shalom. The one who’s reign would be marked by the presence of God and the blessings of the covenant. He is Immanuel, God with us. And so we can experience “shalom” because of His presence.  As the Prince of Peace He is the source of peace. Because of His work we are reconciled to God. Because of His presence we can have peace in the midst of a chaotic world.

       Think again of the words of Paul to the Philippians:  “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer & supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding…” (Phil 4:6,7).  What are the situations that you are facing in life that cause you anxiety, that would keep you up at night or burden you?  Have you got problems? Remember that the Son of God took upon himself a human nature in order to give his life so that we could experience true peace.

III. The PROMISE of Christmas: The Advent of Peace (Isa 9:7). “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”

       Notice that he speaks of an eternal kingdom – One of the issues that we have discussed in our apologetics Sunday School class is the problem of evil. If God is good, and all powerful, why is there so much suffering and injustice in the world? That was not the world as it was created by God. That original creation was pronounced “good,” it was a setting marked by “shalom,” the fulfillment that results from God’s presence. He is Emmanuel, God with us.  Human rebellion, sin, brought suffering and death into the world, and believers are not exempt. I put a link to a short video by Pastor Greg Laurie on my facebook page last week that deals with this question, reminding us that God isn’t surpised by suffering. Even there He is present and working, causing all things, even the hard things, to work together for our good, and for His glory (Romans 8:28).

        An eternal kingdom brought about by God. It can be and will be an eternal kingdom and everlasting peace because the omnipotent king of the universe will accomplish it. Now listen: “wars and rumors of wars” will characterize this age until Jesus returns.  But “shalom” is not merely the absence of conflict. We look forward to the day when fellowship and the presence of God will be restored fully. But even now we can experience peace: “…The Lord is at hand [and so the presence of God, the fundamental requirement of “shalom”]  ⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:5b-7).  Have you had the experience of your child being frightened at night and running to your bedroom? They can climb into bed and fall fast asleep in about two seconds, because as long as mommy and daddy are there, there is no fear, no anxiety.  Here is the promise: The Lord is at hand.  Daddy is with you. You can rest. Shalom.

What is God saying to me in this passage?  Got problems? The Son of God took upon himself a human nature in order to give his life so that we could experience true peace.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? Are you feeling overwhelmed by pressures of the season, trials at work, difficulty at home, uncertainty about the future? Christmas celebrates hope, and peace, because of the Prince of Peace, Jesus. What can we do?

1. I would encourage you this month to make a daily devotional time, focusing on the promises of the incarnation, a part of your Advent celebration.

2. Don’t allow the pressures of family get togethers, travel, and shopping to become “Christmas” for you. Remember Jesus. Look at the Chaos around us and remember why He came: To give us peace!

3. Look for opportunities this month to share the promise of Peace with those in your sphere of influence, point them to Jesus, the One who is the reason for the season.

4. Jesus began and ended the upper room discourse in John with a promise of Peace: John 14:27  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” And then, in John 16:33   ^“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

5. Remember the promise, as we lean on Him, His peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.                          AMEN.

The Advent of Hope

The Advent of Hope

Titus 2:11-15

Introduction: You may have noticed the decorations around the church (or your neighborhood!) have begun to appear. We saw some decorations going up already during our vacation, before Thanksgiving!  For many people Christmas is a time for adorning the house and decorating the carefully selected tree with the symbols that are associated with Advent.  Those traditions are ok, as long as we maintain our focus on the One who is the reason for the season. This week as we celebrate the “Advent of Hope” we turn to a passage in Paul’s letter to Titus and we are reminded that sound doctrine, right teaching of God’s word, is something that we can adorn, it is visible as it impacts us and changes us, it gives us hope, while revealing the beauty of the Gospel to those around us: “…in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” Some translations say, “make attractive” the teaching. When people see that we have hope in the midst of this chaotic world it gets their attention because “hope” is something everyone desperately longs for. The tragedy experienced by the Simon family has us grieving with them as a church family. We mourn, but not as those who have no hope. We have a sure hope that is based on the truth that Jesus Christ has defeated death, he knows us, and one day we will see Him face to face. Hope means to anticipate something with a confident expectation that it is coming. We find comfort in the promise that the suffering of this present age is not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:18). It seems that Paul is saying that as we live in submission to God’s revealed truth we reveal the intrinsic beauty of who God is, and what he has done in us and for us. For Paul theology is always practical and it must filter from our mind to our heart, to our hands and our feet. The truth He has revealed empowers and motivates us to live by faith.

The Big Idea: The first coming of Jesus revealed God’s grace and motivates us to live faithfully in the sure hope of His return. 

I. The Advent of Christ offers hope for humankind: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people…”

            Grace has appeared, because the grace giver, the gracious redeemer, burst upon the stage of human history 2000 years ago. Grace has appeared since he came of his own free will, with a purpose, to give himself to provide salvation for all who would believe.  We are so familiar with the story we can almost forget how astounding it is in the way that it unfolded. After 400 years of silence, the God of all creation, the Lord of the universe who spoke in times past through the prophets, spoke in His Son.  He himself came as one of us. The Jewish people in the first century had a hope based on Scripture, one day the Messiah would arrive and save His people. Contrary to expectations he came under the humblest circumstances not to defeat armies and establish His earthly kingdom, but rather to make a way for forgiveness and life.

            Paul goes on to say that grace appeared, “…bringing salvation for all people…” Not to say that all people would be saved, but that the price has been paid and the gift has been offered, the One Way of salvation through faith in Christ has been extended to all classes of people, and to all races and nations.  Paul had just been talking to masters and servants, to husbands and wives, to young and old, telling them to walk worthy of their calling in Christ.  Jesus is the one and only source of forgiveness and life, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the only name under heaven by which we can be saved (John 14:6, Acts 4:12).   The first coming of Jesus revealed God’s grace and motivates us to live faithfully in the sure hope of His return. The advent of Christ is the Advent of hope, and…

II. The Advent of Hope calls us to live differently:  “…training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…” 

            First of all, we are to live differently in terms of what we don’t do: “…teaching us to renounce ungodliness and worldly lusts…” Sin is a choice.  Our hope in Christ is something that motivates us to live more and more in the light of eternity.  Increasingly our forward focus on Jesus and what He has prepared for us will enable us to say no to sin: “I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me…” (Gal 2:20).

             Positively, we are called to live in a way that manifests the fruit of the Spirit, the presence of God in our lives: “…we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…” Did you know that you are living, already, in the future? We are living in this world, but we are citizens of heaven. We walk in this present age, but we already are partakers of the age to come. As Paul told the Colossians “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son…” (Col 1:13). And so the first coming of Jesus revealed God’s grace and motivates us to live faithfully in the sure hope of His return. 

III. The Advent of Hope calls us to live expectantly… “…waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…”

             Hope involves waiting confidently, expectantly.  The word “hope” usually has a different connotation in English, it’s something we desire or want or long for, but we don’t necessarily have confidence that it will happen.  We “hope” it will, but there may be doubt, our “hope” might be no more than wishful thinking.  One child said, “Hope is wishing for something you know ain’t gonna happen.”  Well biblical “hope” implies anticipation, confidence, faith, based on God’s revealed Word, an assurance that God is good, and a sure expectation that God’s story is going to unfold according to His plan.

            Waiting for what? The first coming of Christ revealed grace, God’s unmerited favor, and provided the basis of the gracious salvation provided in the Cross. His second coming will reveal more fully his unveiled glory. We see a glimpse of His glory now, but wait until we see what John saw in Revelation 1:13-18,

“…and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.  ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;  ¹⁵ His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;  ¹⁶ He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.  ¹⁷ And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.  ¹⁸ "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen.”

            Waiting for who? The language here is quite emphatic, “…our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…” He is our Savior. Because of Him we have hope. He is God, so our hope is sure. Think of that: The first coming of Jesus revealed God’s grace and motivates us to live faithfully in the sure hope of His return. 

IV. The Advent of Hope was costly and purposeful: “…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” 

             Christmas is a time for giving, but there is no doubt that the true gift of Christmas was presented 2000 years ago. Ultimately it was presented not under a tree, but hung on a tree.  He “gave himself for us,” that not only means that He came for us, but that he came to die for us.

            He gave himself to redeem us from the penalty of sin. “Redeem” is from lutroo, “free by paying a ransom.” We were guilty, condemned sinners, unable to free ourselves.  There is the famous story of A.J. Gordon who was the great Baptist pastor of the Clarendon Church in Boston, Massachusetts.  

“One day he met a young boy in front of the sanctuary carrying a rusty cage in which several birds fluttered nervously. Gordon inquired, "Son, where did you get those birds?" The boy replied, "I trapped them out in the field." "What are you going to do with them?""I’m going to play with them, and then I guess I’ll just feed them to an old cat we have at home." When Gordon offered to buy them, the lad exclaimed, "Mister, you don’t want them, they’re just little old wild birds and can’t sing very well." Gordon replied, "I’ll give you $2 for the cage and the birds." "Okay, it’s a deal, but you’re making a bad bargain." The exchange was made and the boy went away whistling, happy with his shiny coins. Gordon walked around to the back of the church property, opened the door of the small wire coop, and let the struggling creatures soar into the blue.”

       That’s redemption. The wages of sin is death. That is what we deserved. Jesus paid the price that we couldn’t pay.  He did what we could not do for ourselves. He who was without sin, was made sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. The Advent of Hope was costly, it was also purposeful.

            He gave himself to make possible a new life, to give us a new heart. In reading through the Bible this week I came across that beautiful passage in Ezekiel 36:25-27,  

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.  ²⁶ And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  ²⁷ And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

For that hope to be ours, a price had to be paid. Jesus, the Son, came to be the Lamb who would take away sin.  That grace was revealed in the first coming of Jesus and motivates us to live faithfully in the sure hope of His return. 

V. The Advent of Hope engages us in mission: “Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you…” (Titus 2:10b-15).

            Paul admonished Titus to declare the truth, to speak about the hope we have in Christ, not apologetically, but confidently. It was a mission that Paul himself embraced and lived, and it was something that he expected to see in his disciples.

            We too are called to be his witnesses, to boldly stand up for Christ and to speak the truth in love, with passion and conviction. One of the key themes we’ll see in our upcoming series in Acts is that Jesus is working through the Spirit empowered witness of the church to build His church. The recent campaign by the Billy Graham association, “My Hope for America,” calls on us to let the Hope we have in Jesus motivate us to reach out to those around us, men, women, children who don’t know Him, who desperately need hope. Have you looked for opportunities to share that message of Hope with those in your sphere of influence? It’s not too late. In fact the call to share the message of hope that Jesus offers is the ongoing mission of the church.  Look around, the fields are white for the harvest. We are surrounded by people who desperately need Jesus.  At this time of the year people are perhaps more open to hear what we have to say about the One who gave himself to give us hope.

What is God saying to me in this passage?  The first coming of Jesus revealed God’s grace and motivates us to live faithfully in the sure hope of His return. 

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?  As we enter the Advent season this year may I ask you, do you have hope? I don’t mean wishful thinking or denial, but real hope, firmly grounded in the truth that God became a man, He lived among us, He bore our sins on the tree, He rose from the grave and He will return. The Lord’s Table reminds us why He came, and it celebrates what He accomplished. If you are unsure about where you stand with Jesus, there is no need to doubt. The gift of Christmas has been purchased: salvation, life, a sure hope for tomorrow.  Jesus didn’t brave the lines on Black Friday to buy some Christmas presents to place under a tree, He braved the Cross on Good Friday, He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, to purchase the gift of life and hope. But like any gift, it must be received. The Scripture says, whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life, whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  Do you believe that He died for your sins on the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day? Then express your trust and thanks to Him with a prayer like this (God is more interested in your heart attitude than the exact words you use): “God, I know that I am a sinner, I constantly choose to do things my way rather than seeking you, please forgive me. I believe that Jesus died for me on the cross and was raised again the third day. I turn from my sin and I turn to you, I put my trust in Jesus and what He has done for me. I receive Him now as the Savior and Lord of my life. Amen.”  If that is the prayer of your heart you have just received the greatest Christmas gift ever: Life and Hope in Jesus. Amen.

Daddy, HELP!

Daddy, Help!

James 5:13-20

Introduction: I remember a scene over twenty years ago when I was a pastor in New Jersey. Sarah was little, maybe four years old or so. She went into a little washroom off of our kitchen and suddenly I heard: “Daddy? Daddy? Daddy! DADDY!” With each “Daddy” her voice got louder and more urgent. First I Iooked up casually, then by the time her voice got to a scream I was running in the door. She had been cornered by a large, fearsome… ANT! I guess when you are four years old a black ant can look big and scary? Well, Dad, the hero, swooped in and smashed the attacking vermin. Sarah’s reply, “Daddy, where were you? Didn’t you hear me? What took you so long?”  When we cry to our heavenly Father for help, He is there, NOW. In fact He already knows our need before we ever speak. He knows the urgency of the moment. He understands our fear. And He is always at the door, ready to help, and here is the hard part: ready to help in the way that is best, every time. Why then are we so often hesitant to call on Daddy, why do we turn to prayer as a “last resort”? The hymn writer said it well: “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer!” That is really the big idea I want to focus on in this final paragraph of this beautiful, practical little letter written by James, the brother of the Lord…

The Big Idea: What peace we forfeit, what pain we bear, when we fail to carry our needs to God in prayer!

I. Prayer for our suffering (13). “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.”  

            Prayer, for the believer in Jesus, is like breathing, or it should be. It is the response of faith to the pressures and trials of life.  “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.” James had used the noun form of the same root word in 5:10, when he spoke of the prophets as an example of “suffering and patience.”  It speaks of enduring evil treatment by people. The apostle Paul used that verb three times in what was probably the last letter he wrote, toward the end of his second Roman imprisonment, the letter we know as Second Timothy. He used this word to describe both his own suffering for the Gospel (2 Tim 2:3,9) and to speak of the need to endure suffering by Timothy (2 Tim 4:5). Writing from a Roman prison, waiting for his day with the executioner, Paul knew something about suffering. Look at the passages…  

2 Timothy 2:3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

2 Timothy 2:8-9  “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,  ⁹ for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!”

2 Timothy 4:5  “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

The reality is that we live in a world infected by sin, and the consequences of sin are all around us. The equation is unavoidable: A world of sinners + a world cursed because of sin = the certainly that we who seek to live as light in the world we will have tribulation. The good news for the believer in Jesus is that He has overcome the world (John 16:33). So as surely as we breathe to get the life giving oxygen into our bodies, we pray in the midst of our trials, because we know that life is in Him. When we suffer we cry out: “Daddy, help!”

“Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” The word translated “cheerful” here doesn’t imply a time of fun and games.  It doesn’t necessarily mean that we will be “happy, happy, happy” from the world’s perspective. But we can be “happy, happy, happy” in truth because we have a foundation that is sure and a future that is secure. We have already been translated out of the domain of darkness into the kingdom of the Son. The word translated “cheerful” here is not used many times in the New Testament. Where is occurs, in one scene in the Book of Acts, it implies “Cheerful courage in the face of danger or difficult circumstances” (see Acts 27:22, 25). We find Paul using this word toward the end of Acts where he is in a ship, a prisoner, on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. The ship is caught in a horrendous storm, and even the experienced crew is beginning to despair:

“Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.  ²³ For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship,  ²⁴ and he said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.'  ²⁵ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.  ²⁶ But we must run aground on some island" (Acts 27:22-26).

Paul used this word to urge others on a ship with him in the midst of a storm, though they were headed for a shipwreck, to “take heart,” i.e. “cheer up,” despite the terror of the moment. Think of what Paul was saying, the storm was raging, the ship would soon be breaking up against the rocks, “Take heart,” “Cheer up!” The swim may be hard, the water may be cold, but you are going to make it. And all 276 onboard did make it to the shore alive. God is bigger than the storm you are going through, he will get you home safely, if you will trust Him.  What peace we forfeit, what pain we bear, when we fail to carry our needs to God in prayer.

II. Prayer for the sick (14-16a). “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  ¹⁶ Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed…”

  This is one of the more debated passages in James (14). First of all, is James talking about physical illness or a spiritual need? The word “sick” or “weak” can be used either way.  Also, is the anointing with oil a ritual to be followed, or is it just using the available medicinal practice of the day accompanied by prayer?  For example in the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 we see that the Samaritan poured “oil and wine” on the wounds of the injured man. It’s probably not strictly an “either/or” situation.

First of all, all suffering and pain came into this world as a result of the sin of Adam: “By one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin…” James was also writing to the believing Jews who were scattered abroad after the martyrdom of Stephen, so they knew about trials. That’s been a theme throughout this letter: “Take heart, God hasn’t forgotten you and he is working in the midst of your pain, sustaining you and strengthening you.”

Secondly, believers get sick too, and it is as natural as breathing that we should pray to our omnipotent Father for healing. Sometimes it could be chastening, something which God is allowing in our life to teach us, to draw us back to Him (I Corinthians 11:30). In others cases, it can simply be the result of living in a fallen world, and then somehow God is working even in that situation for our good and for His glory (see John 9:1ff).

  The fact that the sick person is to call for the elders of the church to “pray over him” implies that he is unable to go to them, apparently sick in bed.  They also “pray over him” implying the sick person is in bed, so it’s a serious situation. By the way we do practice this in our church: when someone is sick and calls for the elders, we go to their home and pray for them, and anoint them with oil, which for us is neither medicinal nor mystical, but it is symbolic, affirming our recognition of God’s presence and our dependence on Him. He is the Great Physician.

  “And the prayer of faith will save the sick…” I don’t think we can interpret this to say that prayer offered in faith guarantees healing in this life (15). I do agree with those who say that healing is in the atonement, in this sense: ultimately, because of Jesus, we who know him will receive a transformed, glorified body.  That is certain, that is God’s promise to us.  We will indeed be “by His stripes, healed” (Isa 53) since one day, because of Him, “…this corruptible will put on incorruption, this mortal, immortality” (I Cor 15). And I do believe, that when it serves God’s purposes, He does grant healing in this life. So it is good and proper to pray for healing, not presumptuously, not thinking that we can “name it and claim it,” but recognizing his sovereignty, and, as always, praying in submission to his lordship. Whether now or then, He will answer.

  Some sickness is the result of sin, and confession will lead to spiritual healing (16a). This is one of those “one another” passages in the New Testament, and it pictures an interdependent body of believers, a family where we can be transparent, and truly “confess our sins” asking for the prayer of a brother or sister that we would get victory over that area of struggle.  This goes beyond the previous statement about calling on the elders for prayer and extends this ministry to the whole church.  Friends, we need to be that kind of a family, with relationships like this, able to speak to one another honestly and confidentially, knowing that our personal struggle is not going to be posted on facebook but that it is going to be personally lifted before the God of the universe on our behalf.   I think we need to exercise discernment here, we don’t want necessarily to “spill our guts” before just anyone, but if the sin affects someone, or if it is known to them, or (and this is important) if they are of sufficient spiritual maturity to be trusted with what we are struggling with, it is a truism that “confession is good for the soul.” I believe this is part of “bearing one another’s burdens.” There is blessing in praying together. What peace we forfeit, what pain we bear, when we fail to carry our needs to God in prayer.

III. Prayer in the will of God is effective (16b-18). “...The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. ¹⁷Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.  ¹⁸ And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” James turns to an illustration from scripture.

            James wants us to know that even a great prophet like Elijah was a mere man, no different than us, and he prayed to God and was used to tremendous effect. Well, he was surely a man of great faith, and God used Him to speak to the nation and its king.

             We can take from this a couple of things: 1) we should pray in faith, knowing that the believing prayer offered in accordance with the will of God will be heard and is effective. God works through the prayers of His people. That’s the main point. 2) We can also see by example that we should pray for needs beyond our immediate circle, and pray for our nation, for the church, for those in authority, for persecuted Christians in other parts of the world, and for the unreached who need to hear. It’s a mystery, but God works through prayer. What peace we forfeit, what pain we bear, when we fail to carry our needs to God in prayer!

IV. Prayer for the straying (19-20). “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back,  ²⁰ let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” 

            Though prayer is not specifically mentioned in 19 and 20, it fits the context to consider the need to pray for those who might be wandering from the truth. It is certain that James would assume that “turning back” a sinner from the error of his way is a matter that cannot be attempted merely in our human weakness without asking God to work in the heart of the stray sheep we are seeking. The language here is very much that of the parables that speak of a lost sheep. The shepherd seeks to find it and bring it back. That is God’s heart, and it should be ours. The wandering can be doctrinal (notice they “wandered from the truth”). The implication is that they were forgetting sound doctrine and perhaps had been influenced by false teaching. He also speaks of “turning a sinner from the error of his way.” The two ideas are related as wrong thinking will inevitably be related to wrong living. James may once again have two groups in the community to which he is writing in mind.

            First, there are those who are saved but have drifted away – we need to pray for them and to look for opportunities to turn them back to Jesus.  Believers who try to live without recognizing God’s sovereignty in their life are inviting his discipline. We have that kind of situation referred to in I Cor 11:29-32 where Paul is discussing those who presumptuously partake of the Lord’s table:

²⁹ For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  ³⁰ For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.  ³¹ For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.  ³² But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

This is not punishment, but loving correction. Who the Lord loves, He chastens.

            Secondly, there may be some who have heard and not been genuinely converted. That need is urgent, and we should seek to bring them back to the One who is Life and Truth, the only Way to the Father (see John 14:6).  I want to leave some DVDs on the back table, produced by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, My Hope for America. Take one only if you will watch it, and then prayerfully consider if there is someone who might benefit from watching it with you. I’d encourage you to invite them over to see and to consider the message of hope that is only found in Jesus (you can also check for the broadcasts of this message in coming weeks).  But first pray. Then pray more.

What is God saying to me in this passage? O What peace we often forfeit, what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? Are you in need of prayer? Do you feel burdened to pray for someone you care about? A friend who is sick, or a child who is wandering? Maybe like Elijah you are burdened with the big picture we face and need to pray for showers of blessing to fall on our country… we have the privilege of doing that personally, at home, with our family or small group, we can also pray here, as a church, so I invite you to come, to cast your burdens on Jesus, and to allow us to pray with you.    AMEN.

Patience for the Journey

Patience in Suffering

James 5:7-12

Introduction:  Let me take you back for a moment 2000 years or so. The disciples had been through a rollercoaster of emotion as the heartbreak and confusion of the Cross gave way to the joy of Resurrection Sunday. Jesus had conquered death and proven beyond question who He is.  Then, for forty days, he had been appearing to them and teaching them about the Kingdom. He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. Finally the disciples asked Him, “Lord, is it at this time that you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  (Acts 1:6). Now Jesus had been teaching about the kingdom for 40 days, and he could have rebuked his disciples for their question. Hadn’t they been listening? But he didn’t. He redirected them. “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons the Father has set by his own authority. But [rather than “when,” this is what you should be concerned about] …you will be witnesses for me…” He re-directed their thinking from “when” to “what”, that is, from when He will return to what they should be doing until He returns.  Now notice what happens next (Acts 1:9,10):

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  ¹⁰ And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,  ¹¹ who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

Notice how Luke emphasizes the connection between their question, the ascension of Jesus, and the words of the angels.  The timing of his return is known only to God. The practical impact of the imminence of His return is to inspire readiness and faithfulness on the part of the followers of Jesus. One of the themes that is foundational to James in this letter is discipleship. James wants his readers to know what an authentic Christ follower looks like. In this passage James wants his readers to know that though we will have trials, though we will pass through difficult circumstances and have to deal with difficult people, we should live differently in the light of the promise of His return.

This past week a few of us were interviewed at the Olympians meeting on Wednesday night. One of the questions that was asked of me was what do you like about being a pastor. I am glad about one question that wasn’t asked: What do you least like?  I like the people, and love seeing how God is working in them, growing and maturing them and using them. I don’t like to see the suffering and pain and struggles that so many go through. I guess I should have learned by now that those two go together. James said, “Count it all joy brothers when you fall into various trials, know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance…”  But if we are to bear one another’s burdens that is exactly where we have to be, alongside, praying with them, walking with them.  James has been speaking throughout this letter to believers who are experiencing trials and is urging them to patient endurance, to hang in there in the midst of trials with a confident hope in the future. (1:2,3,12).   As the work of a farmer is invested in faith, with his hope anticipating a future harvest, so we should serve the Lord, even in the midst of trials, trusting in His plan.

The Big Idea: Even when life is tough we can patiently endure, trusting that God has a plan, and that He is working for our good, and for His glory.

I. Be Patient: The Lord is coming (7-9). As surely as a farmer must wait for his crop to mature, believers can trust that God’s story is unfolding on schedule. Notice James has changed his tone from prophetic rebuke, to pastoral encouragement. He begins, “Therefore, be patient brothers and sisters…” He is addressing fellow Christ followers, brothers and sisters in the flesh since they are Jews, and spiritually since they are believers.

       The first word in the Greek text is the imperative “Be patient…” It’s a compound word that breaks down as “long tempered…” When we think of the English expression “short tempered” we can see the idea, patiently enduring people that could anger us or annoy us or drive us to frustration. This word usually focuses on how we deal with difficult people. A little later we’ll see another word that talks about our “enduring” of difficult circumstances.

         The foundation of our hope: the promise of His coming (7a). “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.” The promise of his coming, the imminence of His return, is mentioned three times in three verses. That promise is the foundation of our “blessed hope.” Titus 2:11-13  says,

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,  ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,  ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…”

Jesus is returning. Do you believe that? Whether or not you believe it, that is the truth.  How then, should we live?  Well Paul told us in that Scripture: “…soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age…” with an eye toward heaven, knowing that this present sin infested world is temporary, even fleeting. Jesus is returning. By the way notice the “therefore” near the beginning of verse 7. It is reminding us that this admonition comes as a logical follow through to the warnings we looked at the last couple of weeks:  Since it is foolish and futile to plan our future without submitting to the sovereign plan and prerogative of God, since our riches and material comforts are temporary and fleeting and can offer no hope beyond the grave, we can patiently endure hardship and difficult people looking with hope, with a confident expectation, toward the promise of His return.

         The example: The patient endurance of the farmer (7b-8). “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  ⁸ You also, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”  If you don’t have patience, farming is probably not for you. A farmer does his part, planting, irrigating, fertilizing, but there is a lot he can’t control and one is the timing of the harvest. In Bible times the ability to irrigate was much more limited, and the seasonal rains coming at the right time was crucial. Everything was done in anticipation of the harvest. It’s ready when it’s ready. It’s time when the time has come. James is saying learn from the example of the farmer, waiting patiently, knowing that the time of harvest will come. “Coming” is the word “parousia,” i.e, “arrival” of the Lord that has “come near.” The verb indicates a past act with continuing results. This is the doctrine of the imminence of His return. God knows when, it could be at any moment, so we must stand firm in our faith, ready to meet the King, and actively embrace the mission He has entrusted to us.

        Don’t grumble: You are almost home (9)! “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.”  When I think of “grumbling” in the Bible my mind goes quickly to the Hebrews in the wilderness. They grumbled under the oppression of slavery, God used Moses to bring them out of Egypt. Then they grumbled in unbelief at Kadesh Barnea, they grumbled about a lack of water, they grumbled about a lack of food, they grumbled about a lack of meat… We never grumble right? Well… This context that speaks three times about the imminence of the Lord’s return says don’t grumble. Why? Because a day of judgment and justice is coming.  Even when life is tough we can patiently endure, trusting that God has a plan, and that He is working for our good, and for His glory.

II. Persevere: The Lord is merciful and compassionate (10-11)! We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who testify to God’s faithfulness, even through times of adversity.

       The example of the prophets: “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.” The Hebrew prophets had a unique calling. For the most part it was not to bring predictions about the future coming of Messiah. They were the “prosecuting attorneys” of the Covenant, often citing the evidence that Israel was guilty of being unfaithful to their covenantal commitments.  This was not always a popular message to preach, but despite resistance and persecution, they stayed faithful. Sometimes they suffered, sometimes they were hated, but if they were a faithful prophet they had no choice but to speak the message God had given. I’ve been reading this week through Jeremiah – his message was not popular, he was rejected, beaten, hated, thrown in a well, but he continued to speak the truth. Hebrews 11:32-39 summarizes some of what the prophets went through as they took a stand for truth and called the people to covenant faithfulness:

“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-  ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,  ³⁴ quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.  ³⁵ Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.  ³⁶ Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  ³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated-  ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy- wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  ³⁹ And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised…”

Their message was not “popular,” it was not easy to preach nor was it warmly received, but they stayed faithful, speaking the truth that God had entrusted to them.  James speaks not only of the perseverance of the prophets, but points to one particular example of perseverance under trial: Job.

        The perseverance of Job: “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job…” “Steadfastness” [hupomone] speaks to standing up under pressure, not wavering in the midst of trial.  Whereas “long suffering” emphasizes patience with people, the word here, “patience” or “steadfastness,” emphasizes bearing up under the difficult situations of life.  Job’s experience was horrendous, and yet he could say, “Though he slay me yet I will trust Him.” What faith! As we read the story of Job, we can see a bigger picture than Job himself understood, yet he stood firm. And ultimately he experienced God’s compassion and mercy, as James says here: “…and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”  Even when life is tough we can patiently endure, trusting that God has a plan, and that He is working for our good, and for His glory.

III. Be honest: Don’t let suffering lead you to bargain with God or with men (12). All God wants is our trust and our obedience. On first reading, without considering the context, v.12 might seem out of place, “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your ‘Yes,’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No,’ lest you fall into judgment.”

       First of all, recall that James in this letter has been very interested in calling attention to “sins of the tongue.” It’s a small thing, but is capable of causing a lot pain and destruction. In this passage he has already talked about grumbling, and now he cautions against taking an oath. He draws attention to this imperative with the phrase, “But above all my brothers…” The emphasis on speech is not surprising when you think about it. Where else is a lack of patience and endurance most likely to show itself?  It starts in the heart, but out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  We might grumble and complain or lash out in anger, or we might try assuaging the situation with words, saying what people want to hear or making promises we are not sure we can keep. A disciple should simply speak the truth in love, let his/her “yes” be “yes,” and “no” be “no.”

  In the context of trials and suffering this makes sense. Under duress, facing pressure from circumstances or from people, we can try bargaining with God or making promises to people to alleviate the uncertainty of the moment. This is one of those passages where it looks like James is reflecting on something Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount. We read in Matthew 5:33-37,

"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.'  ³⁴ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  ³⁶Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.  ³⁷ "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

As a believer in Christ my word should be my bond, it should be enough if I am truly committed to being a person of integrity.

What is God saying to me in this passage? Even when life is tough we can patiently endure, trusting that God has a plan, and that He is working for our good, and for His glory. God is writing a story on the stage of human history that reveals his character, his power, his love for his people. We don’t know all the details but we know enough about the big picture to say with confidence that the suffering of this present age is not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be reveal in us. The end is going to be better than we can possibly imagine.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?  Are you going through a difficult period in your life right now? Maybe its circumstances that seem about to bury you, or maybe it’s a person that is trying your patience. Remember, this too will pass! God has a plan, and if you know Christ you are included in it. I’ve never been a runner, my younger brother has taken to running marathons and recently did a half iron man race. I’ve heard that distance runners can get to a certain point where they “hit a wall,” and feel like they can’t go on, but if they can “push through” they can make it to the finish line. You might feel like you are up against the wall, out of gas, unable to continue. Remember that the suffering and pain of this age is temporary, passing. Remember that Jesus is returning and it could be soon and very soon that we are going to see the King. Remember He is with you and promises wisdom to those who ask, and endurance to those who lean on Him.    AMEN.

Money Problems? It's worse than you think!

Money Problems?

James 5:1-6

Introduction: Some of the fastest growing churches in the world are those that advocate a gospel of “health and wealth.” That is certainly popular in America today as many view the “American Dream” in terms of “whoever has the most toys, wins.”  James will show us that some of the abuses of today are nothing new, they were already showing themselves in the early church. Like most ungodly behavior, the misuse of money usually begins as a problem in the heart.  The passage we are looking at today has a context; James was speaking in 4:13-17 about those who would arrogantly plan their future without consulting and submitting to the will of God. It also leads up to 5:7, where he says “Be patient then…”  It seems James is signaling out some rich in the community who have acted unjustly toward the poorer Christians. Their money gives them a feeling of independence; they are in control of their life and their future. You might think, well if this is about the rich, I can tune out. If money talks, the only thing it ever says to me is “good-bye”!  Two responses:

     1) According to a recent study, the poorest 5% in American are richer than 68% of the people in the world. The average American is in the top 5% of the wealthiest people in the world. So you are richer than you think!

     2) Whatever your level of income or your possessions, the “love of money,” greed and covetousness, can creep into our lives. The problem isn’t money in itself, but rather our attitude toward wealth and possessions and how that affects our attitude toward God and toward others. Jesus taught his disciples that it is impossible to serve two masters, you can’t serve both God and money (Lk 16:13). Elsewhere He said that where our heart is, there our treasure will be also. Where is our treasure (Matt 6:19-21)? 

The Big Idea: God knows how we handle what He has entrusted to us, so we must be good and godly stewards.

I. We will be held accountable for our use of what has been entrusted to us: Rich oppressors are called to lament their coming miseries (v.1). “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you…”

           As in 4:13, James begins again with the phrase, “Come now…”  The repetition ties the two passages together as a stern admonition. He once again is speaking like an Old Testament prophet, condemning those who are living as “practical atheists,” forgetting God as they arrogantly plan their lives and their futures, hoarding wealth and using or disregarding people who get between them and their aspirations.

          “Come now, you rich…” The context makes it clear the rich that James is confronting: those who are hoarding wealth and disregarding others in the process. It’s the “me first, too bad for you” attitude that characterizes so many today. It’s the attitude that says “My comfort and security is all the matters to me, every man for himself!” Its quite different from the attitude pictured by Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the attitude that “looks out not only for our own personal interest, but also the interest of others…” (Phil 2:4). Jesus’ teaching is clear that we are called to love our neighbor, our fellow humans, and that their need and their good is something that should impact our decisions.

          To the “rich” James warns, “…weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you…” This is strong language, it speaks to the wailing and mourning that often accompanied the death of loved ones in the the Ancient Near East. It’s used of the crying out of demons as they are cast out by Jesus. Here, the language implies heart breaking despair, like Judas weeping bitterly after betraying the Master. In James admonition it points to the divine judgment that the oppressors of the poor were bound for – the eternal judgment of Hell. Two things to consider:

     1) This is a warning to those who are in fact perishing, who don’t know God and are living with all their focus on this present world. James, as a prophet in the Old Testament, is warning them that judgment is coming and that they had better repent while there is time. Actually he is preaching a bit like Jonah in Ninevah in that he is announcing impending judgment. I think, like the Ninevites, the implied message is “repent before it’s too late!” (Or at least that was God’s message even if it wasn’t Jonah’s!).

     2) Secondly, he is also sounding an alarm for others in the community, believers in Jesus, who have been letting the love of the world creep into their thinking and their choices. It is a wake up call: Is this how you want to act (from the previous context, “Don’t you remember that friendship with the world is enmity toward God?” Have you forgotten who you are in Christ? Walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called!  Listen, God knows how we handle what He has entrusted to us, so we must be good and godly stewards.

II. The useless hoarding of wealth: You can’t take it with you (2-3b) ! “Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten.  ³ Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire.”

          James is reminding his readers that the riches that they are pursuing are temporary. This is not something new to James. In a passage I alluded to above, Jesus had taught saying,

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal,  ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).

The things that we treasure in this life are temporary and fleeting. Real estate, investments, our cars, our collections, all of it can be lost, broken or stolen. We should plan – Scripture talks about the wisdom of thinking ahead, planning for an emergency. We should not be a hoarder in the sense of neglecting legitimate needs and the work of the Kingdom. Missionaries are a good example. Men and women hearing the call of God to serve in difficult or even dangerous places to bring the Gospel of Christ to those who need to hear need and deserve our support – the worker is worthy of his/her hire. Am I so tied to things that I covet but don’t need that I am neglecting opportunities to invest in eternity?

          The mention of “evidence against” them implies judgment, it pictures a courtroom and it reminds us that we will give an account. In a real sense the unbelieving rich will have the ashes of their lives behind them as a testimony of what they valued. Remember the story Jesus told of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-25,

"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.  ²⁰ And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,  ²¹ who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.  ²² The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,  ²³ and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.  ²⁴ And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'  ²⁵ But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish...’”

Judgment is coming for those who reject Christ and fix their heart on the things of this world that are so fleeting. 

           As believers in Christ we should have the perspective that we are called to be stewards of what has been entrusted to us. Paul stated a principal in I Corinthians 4:2 when he said “…it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy…” Paul is talking there about our faithfulness with the message that has been entrusted to us, but the principal of stewardship applies more broadly to all of life. Paul asked the Corinthians in that same chapter “What do you have that you did not receive? IF you received it why do you boast as if you had not?” (I Corinthians 4:7b).  All that we have, life itself, is because of the grace and mercy of God.  God knows how we handle what He has entrusted to us, so we must be good and godly stewards.

III. A heart issue: The Love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (3c-6). James points specifically to some of the sins of oppression that characterized the unbelieving rich of his day, and unfortunately at times showed up among wealthy believers as well. Elsewhere Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:6-10,

^“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,  ⁷ for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.  ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.  ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith…”

Paul is not saying that every sin starts with the love of money, but he is saying that’s where a lot of sins begin, and James points out just a few.

     The sin of wrong priorities, specifically, living only for today (v.3c). “You have laid up treasure in the last days.”  The perspective of an atheist is that we are living only for today – so eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.  Since this life is all there is (they suppose), the chief concern becomes looking out for number one, or perhaps my family as well, but beyond that, you are on your own! James says we are living in the “last days” and that truth should mold our priorities in such a way that we look beyond our comforts and desire for security and think about the kingdom and the mission that has been entrusted to us. Wait a minute, you might say, if James thought we were in the “last days,” and here we are 2000 years later, what’s the big deal? The writer to the Hebrews uses similar language in 1:1-2, the work of Jesus initiated the “last days.”  The same phrase is used by Paul in 2 Timothy 3:1-4  where Paul describes some of the same attitudes that James is confronting in his letter:

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,  ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…”

Does that not sound like a description of America in the 21^st century? If atheists are on a path to destruction living only for today, why in the world would a believer conduct his life, Monday to Saturday, like a “practical atheist,” making choices with our possessions that seems to imply I am living only for myself and my comfort and security? In these last days we have been entrusted with an urgent mission. Time is short and eternity is at stake for those who have not yet believed. God alone saves, but He works through us, the church, His followers, and the preaching of the Word. We need to refocus our perspective.

     Next James points out the sin of unjust gain (v.4). ^“Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts.” The picture is that of unjustly gained wealth, a willingness to bend the rules or step on other people to get what we want.  Fairness is not a motive, much less generosity. 

     Next he turns to the sin of self-indulgence (v.5). ⁵ You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have had your day, you have experienced “comfort” in this life, but again speaking like a prophet in the Old Testament, judgment is coming.  I point the finger at myself as well as I say this, but this is America in the 21^st century. We think we deserve it, we are “different” than the rest of the world. So millions starving in Sudan have nothing to do with me eating out four times this week or spending $100 a month on lattes. What would Jesus say? Would to God that more and more we would look on the world around us through His eyes, and think beyond the games that entertain us to the souls that are headed toward a lost eternity.

     The sin of injustice (v.6). ^“You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.” The language here is a little difficult. Ultimately we know that only Jesus is righteous, and He, the Just, died for the unjust, willingly, and silently, like a lamb before its shearers, He opened not His mouth.  I think James’ point here is that their treatment of the poor by the rich, the innocent who did nothing to deserve their hatred, was leading to their suffering and death. Is this the love for our neighbor that Christ followers are called to exhibit? If we are God’s children, if our heart is to know Him, more and more we should see the world around us through our Father’s eyes. Compassion, grace, and generosity will increasingly guide the decisions we make.

What is God saying to me in this passage? The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. The things we accumulate here are temporary, they will all rust, corrode or burn, so why do we hold it so tightly? God will hold us accountable, He knows how we handle what He has entrusted to us, so we must be good and godly stewards.

What would God have me to do in response to this passage? You are richer than you think. Money is not evil, having it is not sin, but hoarding it, coveting it, gaining it unjustly surely is evil, which is sin. You might identify yourself more with the oppressed poor, but remember, fellow American, you are richer than you think. Sometimes we can develop a sense of entitlement, an idea that we deserve to be supported by society. There are legitimate needs, and then there is also laziness. We should be willing to work. We should be cheerful givers: God is not only interested in tithes, he expects us to be wise stewards of all that He has given us, using all that we have been entrusted with for good, for the gospel, and for His glory.               AMEN.