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The Life We Live For

The Life We Live For. James 5:1-6. The Life We Live For. Our study of James enters it’s final leg as we dive into chapter 5 James has taught many lessons that helps the Christian in their daily walk Chapter 5 is just as full of those lessons as the previous 4 chapters were.

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The Life We Live For

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  1. The Life We Live For James 5:1-6

  2. The Life We Live For • Our study of James enters it’s final leg as we dive into chapter 5 • James has taught many lessons that helps the Christian in their daily walk • Chapter 5 is just as full of those lessons as the previous 4 chapters were

  3. The Life We Live For • James begins chapter 5 with some scathing words for those who are rich • Those who James is referring to were probably not the faithful Christians who were holding fast • It is more than likely the rich Jewish religious elitist of that day

  4. The Life We Live For • Remember James had already mentioned those with money • He first spoke of them in chapter 1 and said the rich would fade away in his pursuits • He also spoke of the rich in chapter 2 as they came into the assembly

  5. The Life We Live For • The rich oppressed them, drug them into the courts and blasphemed the name Christian • At the end of chapter 4 he even speaks to those who seek to be rich • Those who are rich might get a little uncomfortable with what James says

  6. The Life We Live For • James isn’t saying all this because they are rich • There have been many rich men who were good men (Job, Abraham, David, Joseph of Arimethea) • They were in trouble here over what they did with their wealth

  7. The Life We Live For • The question for us is not whether we have wealth • The question is what will we do with it? • Are we living for this physical life, or are we living for a life after this one? • Here’s some dangers inherit with riches…

  8. The Life We Live For • 1. Money can’t buy everything • Sure money can be used to buy a lot of things • Some of those things can bring temporary happiness and satisfaction • However, it will never buy those things which last

  9. The Life We Live For • 1. Money can’t buy everything • Solomon said those with money have an endless pursuit (Ecc. 5:10, 12) • Money cannot buy salvation either • Simon the sorcerer tried to buy the power of God (Acts 8:18-20) • It’s a free gift (Rom. 6:23)

  10. The Life We Live For • 1. Money can’t buy everything • Destruction comes for those who are not rich towards God (Lk. 12:20-21) • It’s sad to lose one’s soul over worldly things (Mk. 10:23-24) • Neither an abundance of money or a lack of will get one to heaven

  11. The Life We Live For • 2. Riches are temporary • The bible speaks over and over again about not putting stock into that which is temporary • Jesus made it clear when He told us not to lay up treasures on earth (Matt. 6:19-21) • Those James spoke to were storing up earthly treasures (vs. 2-3)

  12. The Life We Live For • 2. Riches are temporary • “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God…”(I Tim. 6:17) • “Do not love the world or the things in the world…and the world is passing away…”(I Jn. 2:15-17)

  13. The Life We Live For • 3. Riches cause corruption • Remember what James said about those who were rich in chapter 2? • Paul said the love of money was a root of all kinds of evil (I Tim. 6:10) • Here they were not paying their workers fair wages, they had condemned and murdered

  14. The Life We Live For • 3. Riches cause corruption • Greed is one big problem for those who find themselves with riches • The COI were accused of robbing God in Malachi 3 • Hebrews 13:5 tells us to be content with what we have

  15. The Life We Live For • 4. Riches can take our eyes off Jesus • Many people get caught up in earthly affairs that distract them from what is really important • Chasing after this worlds goods is one big distraction • That’s why we are warned over and over to keep our focus

  16. The Life We Live For • 4. Riches can take our eyes off Jesus • We are admonished to keep our eyes focused on Jesus as we run this race (Heb. 12:1-2) • Paul reminds us to seek the things that are above and to set our minds on those things (Col. 4:1-2) • Satan wishes to distract us

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