James
Follow the Money to the Root of All Evil
“Follow the money”
Every evil known to man has come out of the love of money
Greed, envy, selfishness, adultery, assault, pride, murder, etc.
Can you think of a sin that has not gotten its roots in the love of money
James is speaking to those outside the church
To a world that runs businesses, and governments
The love of money has hurt everyone
James’ readers identify with his words because their suffering
The relocation of their lives and families
The murder of their loved ones has come from the love of money
Sadly, it is not the world reading James letter, but the church
Who should know the love of money is the root of evil
And should avoid its temptations and traps
The believers’ joy is not based on what worldly money can buy
But on the inner riches of Kingdom living
No one has ever sinned by gaining heavenly treasures
Because you can’t get heavenly treasures without actions of love
Toward God and others
The wealthiest in heaven are those who have become servants
Follow the Money to the Root of All Evil
James has good reason for telling the rich to…
“Weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.”
Listen to Paul’s words to the young pastor Timothy…
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
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.
1 Timothy 6:9-10
People who want to become rich…
We all know life goes better with “Cash”…
“Cash is king”
Why wouldn’t you want to become rich?
Why not fill your barns so you can eat drink
and be merry because tomorrow
will soon be here and you will die.
Paul and James warns us of the trap set
for you and me as we want to be rich.
Wanting to become rich has caused many
to become foolish and cause harmful…
Desires that ruin and destroy.
1 Timothoy 6:9
James says…
It is not just to live in worldly luxury
and self-indulgence but “You have
condemned and murdered innocent men”
James 5:6
We have all heard Paul’s words…
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
It may be more true to the original Greek to say…
For the love of money is a root of all evil.
Think about it.
The parents who work hard
to give their kids everything…
But in the end what their children needed most was
their time (time is all we have there for time is life,
greater love has no man than this than to lay
down his life (time) for his friends, family).
At the top of the list of marriage
problems are arguments over money.
How many friends and family are there who do
not speak to each other because of money.
The pain over business deals, the
separation of business partners over money.
Of all the court cases in our land how many are over money.
If you see a problem and you want to find out
why things are done the way they are.
The saying is true…
“Follow the money”
Every evil known to man has
come out of the love of money…
Greed, envy, selfishness, adultery,
assault, pride, murder, etc.
Can you think of a sin that has not
gotten its roots in the love of money.
James is speaking to those outside the church,
to a world that runs businesses, and governments.
The love of money has hurt everyone.
James’ readers identify with his words because their suffering,
the relocation of their lives and families, the murder
of their loved ones has come from the love of money.
Sadly, it is not the world reading
James’ letter, but the church…
Who should know the love of money is the root
of evil and should avoid its temptations and traps.
The believers joy is not based on what
worldly money can buy but on
the inner riches of Kingdom living.
No one has ever sinned by gaining heavenly treasures.
Because you can’t get heavenly treasures with-
out actions of love toward God and others.
The wealthiest in heaven are
those who have become servants.
Don’t ever forget Jesus’ words…
So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or
'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his
kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34
So follow the money if you want to find evil.
Or, follow the Kingdom of God…
If you want to find true wealth.
God is not against you and I prospering
and Psalms 1 tells us how to prosper…
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Psalms 1
Don’t let the love of money destroy you and others.
And my God will meet all your needs according to
his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Scripture Reading
James 5:1-6 NIV
5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 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. 4 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. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.
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