THE LOVE OF MONEY CAN MAKE A PERSON PROUD, COVETOUS & UNKIND
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Attitude Toward Money
a) James and he warns us about money.
2. The Love Of Money Can Make A Person Proud, Covetous And Unkind
a) James and Paul show that the pursuit of money beyond our needs will spoil us spiritually.
James 4:16
16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
1 Timothy 6:9-11
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 and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
i) "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and ruin. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and this love has caused many to stray from the faith and to pierce themselves with many a sorrow."
b) James has a lot more to say about the spiritual and moral corruption.
James 2:5-9
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
i) The rich oppresses the poor.
James 4:2-4
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
i) This terrible condemnation, apparently directed to certain members of the church, shows to what depths the lust for money and possessions can drive a person.
James 5:1-6
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 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. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 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. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
i) James goes on to condemn the oppression of the poor by the rich, whether it be withholding wages from poor laborers so they cannot feed their families and pay their bills, or even murdering the righteous in order "to live on earth in pleasure and luxury".
c) Is James's teaching about money still as relevant and applicable today, as it was 2000 years ago, or are things different now?
The End ...
1. Attitude Toward Moneya) James and he warns us about money.
2. The Love Of Money Can Make A Person Proud, Covetous And Unkind
a) James and Paul show that the pursuit of money beyond our needs will spoil us spiritually.
James 4:16
16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
1 Timothy 6:9-11
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 and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
i) "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and ruin. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, and this love has caused many to stray from the faith and to pierce themselves with many a sorrow."
b) James has a lot more to say about the spiritual and moral corruption.
James 2:5-9
5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
i) The rich oppresses the poor.
James 4:2-4
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
i) This terrible condemnation, apparently directed to certain members of the church, shows to what depths the lust for money and possessions can drive a person.
James 5:1-6
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 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. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 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. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.
i) James goes on to condemn the oppression of the poor by the rich, whether it be withholding wages from poor laborers so they cannot feed their families and pay their bills, or even murdering the righteous in order "to live on earth in pleasure and luxury".
c) Is James's teaching about money still as relevant and applicable today, as it was 2000 years ago, or are things different now?
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