WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:06.160 Well, as you grab your Bibles, you can turn them to James chapter 5. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:11.839 And as you're getting yourself there, I got a question for you here that you can kind of think through a little bit. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:17.199 How do you respond when you are mistreated? 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:18.079 Right? 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:21.920 When things don't go your way and someone treats you badly? 00:00:22.239 --> 00:00:27.839 You know, you know, what do you naturally and kind of instinctively feel? 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:29.280 How do you think? 00:00:29.359 --> 00:00:30.399 What comes to mind for you? 00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:31.760 How do you react? 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:36.240 How do you speak when someone treats you wrongly? 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:36.719 Right? 00:00:36.880 --> 00:00:42.399 When you are maybe even persecuted or oppressed. 00:00:42.640 --> 00:00:50.880 Now, of course, there is a uh there's a wide spectrum, I think, of examples when it comes to being oppressed. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:01:11.040 Maybe it's something you know quite minor for you, something very first world, uh, like how you know the Rogers or Bell Rep had the audacity to be a little bit short with you on the phone this week, even though you were kept on hold waiting for 30 minutes before you were able to kind of work through some of your payment plans and that kind of stuff. 00:01:11.439 --> 00:01:16.400 Sometimes we think that is a huge deal, and I'm so, so oppressed uh in those moments. 00:01:16.640 --> 00:01:22.400 But you know, maybe at the other end of the spectrum, uh it's a little bit more uh severe, right? 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:34.480 More major than that, where for you, maybe you're being ostracized uh at the office, you know, maybe you know you're being slandered even, and it's because of your Christian worldview. 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:54.159 You know, and and maybe people are, you know, kind of nice to your face and all of that, but you know, behind your back they're whispering and the gossip is going around, and perhaps it's to the point of you even being passed over for you know promotions, even though you know you've legitimately been next in line for a while now, and deservedly so. 00:01:54.480 --> 00:02:03.359 I mean, there are countless examples, right, that we could give of what it means to be oppressed, you know, some more severe than others. 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:16.240 And it's probably true that as North Americans, again, we carry this, you know, such a sense of entitlement that what we often call you know oppression is little more than I didn't get my way, right? 00:02:16.319 --> 00:02:19.759 So I'm gonna whine and I'm gonna complain about that. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:33.120 Uh, but would you agree that when it comes to actual, real, heavy oppression, uh what you and I believe and you know what we think and how we respond is important. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:34.479 Would you agree with that? 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:36.719 God certainly thinks so. 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:51.360 Today we're gonna begin the final chapter in our series here in the book of James's uh letter to these churches, and he addresses uh what was a very real and troubling issue among the believers there. 00:02:51.680 --> 00:03:05.919 They were being treated shamefully, they were being exploited by the wealthy upper class, which was at the point of little literally being a life and death issue, as we're gonna see. 00:03:06.240 --> 00:03:14.560 And so James writes these very strong words directed at the oppressors themselves. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:18.879 Now, there's been some debate about that, I guess. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:28.719 You know, is James writing to Christians within the church who are treating other Christians within the church shamefully? 00:03:29.039 --> 00:03:38.240 Or is he addressing immoral individuals outside the church who are oppressing those within it? 00:03:39.360 --> 00:03:54.879 I believe it's clear, and I believe most commentators believe it's clear based on the context and based on what James himself says, that he's taking aim here in these words at evil men outside of the church. 00:03:55.360 --> 00:03:59.360 It was unbelievers oppressing believers. 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:02.879 And we'll see that as we go through it here, I think. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:09.599 So let's uh just read this passage, James uh chapter five, uh verses one to six, follow along with me. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:16.079 It says this Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:20.319 Your riches have rotted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:28.560 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidenced against you, and will eat your flesh like fire. 00:04:29.040 --> 00:04:32.399 You have laid up treasure in the last days. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:45.839 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. 00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:51.040 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:55.199 You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:04:58.800 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:01.120 He does not resist you. 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:12.319 God, as we read your word and as we come before you here today, Lord, we see a lot of strong words here, Lord. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:22.560 A lot of strong words that kind of get our minds thinking about maybe the oppression uh that we have received at the hands of evil men. 00:05:23.360 --> 00:05:28.879 Perhaps it's, Lord, something that we've received even just this week. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:41.199 And God, as we go through that, as we go through mistreatment and as we're treated shamefully and harshly, Lord, it is it is hard for our hearts to rest in you. 00:05:41.279 --> 00:05:47.920 It is difficult for us to have hope sometimes that any of this will get sorted out. 00:05:48.639 --> 00:05:56.560 Lord, I pray that as we hear these words here today, Lord, I pray that we would be filled with a great sense of your power, Lord. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:06.560 I pray that we would be filled with uh understanding that you are a righteous judge and you were a good judge, Lord, and you will take care of us. 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:13.680 And Lord, even beyond that, you will punish all who treat your people poorly. 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:23.920 And Lord, as we think through a rather, I don't know, sensitive issue and a difficult topic, Lord, I pray that you would uh give our hearts understanding, Lord. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:26.560 You would give us greater faith in you, Lord. 00:06:26.639 --> 00:06:30.160 I pray that you would prepare your church even this morning. 00:06:30.399 --> 00:06:37.920 Lord, as maybe some of us sitting here could say that, you know what, I really haven't gone through much oppression, not when I really think about what oppression is. 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:50.000 But Lord, as we just kind of survey the landscape of our world and of our culture, Lord, we know that times are getting more difficult for Christians, times are getting more difficult for churches. 00:06:50.240 --> 00:06:53.680 And so, Lord, would you prepare us for what is coming? 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.600 Lord, I pray that we would hold fast to Jesus Christ, Lord. 00:06:57.839 --> 00:07:06.639 I pray that we would praise you no matter the trial, no matter the difficulty that you would have us go through, Lord, as we know that you will be with us. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:12.240 And so, God, we leave all of this in your hands and cry out for you. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:14.800 We pray this all in Jesus' name. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:15.759 Amen. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:16.800 Amen. 00:07:16.959 --> 00:07:30.720 Now, if uh if James writes these words to corrupt, you know, unbelieving people outside the church, uh, it really begs the question, why? 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:32.639 Right, like why does he do that? 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:41.199 Why would James direct this this passage, these verses, towards outsiders, towards unbelievers? 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:41.920 Right? 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:43.680 Because think about it here. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:53.839 Right, it's it's unlikely that these folks would would really care all that much that they were oppressing and exploiting these church members for personal gain. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:54.319 Right? 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:59.120 They're probably like, I like I don't care what James has to say here, right? 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:03.759 Also unlikely is that they would even read these verses in the first place. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:04.240 Right? 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:10.240 I have a hard time believing that they were just like, oh man, can't wait to hear what James has to say to the Christians. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:10.639 Right? 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:11.600 I kind of doubt that. 00:08:11.759 --> 00:08:22.480 Now, you know, there's some thought there that some of these folks would have made their way into the church from time to time, and you know, that's certainly true, and at least likely and all of that. 00:08:22.720 --> 00:08:29.360 But again, let's understand that this is a letter written to the church for the church. 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:40.639 So again, why does James rail the way he does against those who may never read it or again care what he has to say? 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:56.639 Well, because in so doing, these Christians, right, the recipients of this letter, and of course you and I by extension, we are reminded that God will deal with those who oppress his people. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:57.360 Right? 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:01.120 The Lord is a righteous judge, right? 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:10.399 And he will not ultimately just, you know, sit idly by and let wicked people get away with doing wicked things. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:11.120 Right? 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:16.720 This is, you know, this passage, it's it's condemnation of the unjust. 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:17.360 Right? 00:09:17.519 --> 00:09:22.080 It lets us know that judgment against evildoers is coming. 00:09:22.799 --> 00:09:23.039 Right? 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:29.279 And it is actually a good thing that you and I are reminded of this. 00:09:30.320 --> 00:09:38.320 Here's what John Calvin, the reformer, had to say about this very passage that we are studying today. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:59.440 He says, James has a regard to the faithful, that's Christians, the church, that they, hearing of the miserable end of the rich, might not envy their fortune, and also knowing that God would be the avenger of the wrongs they suffered, they might, with a calm and resigned mind, bear them. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:12.960 Okay, so James here, channeling his, you know, inner Old Testament prophet, really, you know, bringing the fire in regards to impending doom, right? 00:10:13.200 --> 00:10:18.639 He speaks of the destruction that is coming to the wicked. 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:24.320 And as he does this, I mean, just put yourself in the shoes of the church, right? 00:10:24.399 --> 00:10:44.799 These hurting, these the scared, afflicted, perhaps even hopeless Christians reading this, and and us too, as we go through that in in our lives, we learn and and we are reminded that none of the evil done to us will go unpunished. 00:10:45.039 --> 00:10:45.919 None of it. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:46.480 Right? 00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:52.720 Which is actually meant to give you and I a sense of comfort, right? 00:10:53.039 --> 00:11:02.960 A sense of peace and and and calm and trust in God and and hope in him and for the future, in the in the justice of God, right? 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:08.799 In his goodness, in his power, and his in his plan, and what he will do. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:14.240 And so, with all of that, here's the first thing here today, two points. 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:19.039 The Lord will deal decisively with those who oppress me. 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:24.799 So I will resist imitating their pursuit of what will only decay. 00:11:25.440 --> 00:11:30.159 Take a look at verse one with me here as we go through these six verses. 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:32.559 He says, This, come now. 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:34.960 Now you might remember this sounds familiar. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:40.559 This is exactly how last week's passage started in chapter 4, verse 13. 00:11:40.720 --> 00:11:42.480 It literally just means, now listen, right? 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:45.279 So he says, Come now, listen, you rich. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:53.440 Now he's not just speaking, you know, generally to anybody who happens to have money or be wealthy, right? 00:11:53.679 --> 00:12:01.200 Rather, he's specifically speaking to those who use their wealth to sinfully oppress, right? 00:12:01.360 --> 00:12:05.679 To sinfully bully and marginalize others. 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:22.399 I mean, just last week we saw how James wrote to wealthy Christians, right, in these in these congregations about how they should handle their money and their attitudes towards money, that they should have attitudes that honor Christ in all of these things. 00:12:22.799 --> 00:12:35.440 And now he he condemns wealthy unbelievers and the various injustices that they were just doling out against those in the church. 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:37.279 Now, how can we tell this? 00:12:37.440 --> 00:12:41.039 Again, how can we tell that he's speaking to unbelievers? 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:44.799 Well, we'll see this as we go through the verses, but here's what he tells them. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:47.919 He tells them to weep and howl. 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:48.559 Do you see that? 00:12:48.720 --> 00:12:52.799 Weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:57.200 Now, that word howl there is sometimes translated wail. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:13:01.200 If you have the NIV version there, uh that's probably how you see it. 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:16.559 Now, that was a word that was commonly used by Old Testament prophets when referring to the impending doom of the unrighteous that that God promised to carry out on those who refused to repent. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:22.159 The uh Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 13 says, wail, right? 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:24.960 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:30.080 He says, destruction, as destruction from the Almighty will come. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:39.360 Nowhere in our verses here this morning is there even a shred of hope delivered to those who he's talking to. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:39.679 Right? 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:41.120 It's condemnation. 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:53.360 It's you know, there's nothing in here about you know forgiveness, there's nothing in here about you know redemption, which is what he would include, and he has even included when he has been talking to believers. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:14:11.279 Now, the miseries that you see there in verse one, that word, the destruction here, is to be understood not merely as you know the earthly miseries that the unrighteous will one day maybe suffer in this life. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:13.440 Because let's just be honest. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:13.919 Right? 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:20.159 Sometimes evil people, uh, they don't seem to suffer much in this life, do they? 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:20.720 Right? 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:31.039 At least not as far as uh we can tell, which again, is that's just one of those things that's so difficult for us to grasp and to wrap our minds around. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:51.919 And we see, you know, people that we can tell, you know, are you know are at the end of the day just so wicked, and they just seem to be, you know, benefiting from their evil acts, and maybe they're getting more money and more money, and more people are getting hurt by it, and it just seems like this is never gonna end, and we don't ever, it seems like they never have a bad day. 00:14:52.879 --> 00:14:53.120 Right? 00:14:53.279 --> 00:15:03.759 So the miseries here are best seen as referring to the ultimate suffering, the ultimate retribution that will come at the final judgment. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:09.120 When we're talking final judgment here, we're talking the you know the second coming of Christ. 00:15:09.279 --> 00:15:15.200 We know that that Jesus is going to return, he's going to judge the living and the dead. 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:15.840 Right? 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:24.080 Those who have repented of their sins and put their faith in Jesus Christ are gonna receive eternal life. 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:30.879 And we're gonna live for him, for with him forever in glory, in new heavens and in a new earth. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:38.240 Those, though, who have hardened their hearts and refused to repent and have rejected Jesus. 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:42.399 It's gonna be weeping, it's gonna be gnashing of teeth. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:51.840 The Bible talks very clearly about hell and pain and destruction and separation from God forever. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:58.399 Awful, horrible things that are even difficult to uh to talk about. 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:06.240 This is the misery that that James speaks of and he says, that that that's coming. 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:09.440 Now, verse two, take a look. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:18.399 And listen here to the language of decay that that earthly and and and temporal riches ultimately become. 00:16:18.960 --> 00:16:24.960 He says there, your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:26.559 Verse 3. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:29.919 Your gold and silver have corroded. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:30.399 Right? 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:47.759 So the wealth and the material goods that they have, you know, 100% just poured their lives into going after and accumulating, you know, no matter the depraved methods or or the harm to other people, right, it's just fleeting. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:54.080 It's all gonna get eaten by moths or or wrought or corrod. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:17:00.320 But if you keep going there in that verse, it says, and their corrosion will be evidence against you. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:00.879 Right? 00:17:00.960 --> 00:17:06.880 It literally becomes evidence of their guilt that leads to a just conviction. 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:07.440 Right? 00:17:07.680 --> 00:17:08.799 God will judge. 00:17:09.440 --> 00:17:14.640 And again, he says there, he says, and and it will eat your flesh like fire, right? 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:25.200 This is this is a picture of uh of God's judgment, and that and that's a phrase that's that's used commonly elsewhere in Jewish literature. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:30.960 He says there, you have laid up treasure in the last days, right? 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:34.079 In the final judgment, right? 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:35.920 We're in the last days now, right? 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:40.640 And the and the end is coming where God will judge all people. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:41.759 Right? 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:50.559 And presumably, as you as you think about the context and the churches that James is writing to, they had been testifying to this. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:18:16.400 And so the general population, as they're evangelizing and they're proclaiming Jesus, they would have been at least somewhat aware of the message of the church and the gospel, yet these wealthy, you know, elite had disregarded uh God's call and spent their lives just accumulating treasure at the merciless expense of those less fortunate. 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:37.440 Now, as as as the church read James' words here or or had them read to them, it would have been a very strong and sobering reminder of what the pursuit of riches and and treasure like this ultimately leads to. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:38.079 Right? 00:18:38.160 --> 00:18:39.359 It's decay. 00:18:39.839 --> 00:18:40.079 Right? 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:43.920 It's certainly our our our physical treasure decays over time. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:51.920 I think that makes sense to us, but but when we pursue these ends, I think on some level we decay ourselves. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:52.400 Right? 00:18:52.640 --> 00:19:11.599 Our hearts are so easily corrupted, and and and how we you know treat others as we pursue wealth, and that and that takes over our heart and our desires and all of that, it can all take such a dark turn and as these believers they're experiencing firsthand. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:12.640 Right? 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:19.759 And so keeping in mind that many of these Christians were very poor. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.319 Right? 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:25.839 James's rebuke of the oppressive wealthy class here is also a warning to them. 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:26.480 Right? 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.720 Do not imitate these people. 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:34.160 Do not imitate their pursuit of earthly riches. 00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:38.000 It all decays. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:48.000 Which is a word uh that I think we need to hear just as much as as they do, though maybe from a different angle. 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:49.119 Right? 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:56.880 In North America, the you know, the pursuit of of riches, I mean, it's so clear, right? 00:19:56.960 --> 00:20:04.160 I as you just look out at the culture and you you see, you know, the American dream is talked about constantly. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:13.839 And it's all about success and it's all about you know comfort and entertainment and and building up empires, and and it's all of that. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:18.160 And listen, this this stuff is so crept into the church as well. 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:23.039 And so many of us, I think, are trying to play that game where we we want it all. 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:23.519 Right? 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:36.720 I I want the money and I want the comfort and I want to go after these things, and I like pretty shiny things, and yet I also to some degree I want a strong relationship with Jesus, and so we want our cake and to eat it too. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:53.599 And listen, this thing, again, it creeps into the church and into our hearts and into the very messages that the church has proclaimed. 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:54.559 Right? 00:20:54.720 --> 00:21:07.359 And I think all of us, you know, kind of think through and you know, pastors with you know, jets and stuff like that, just living this opulent lifestyle. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:11.519 I don't have a jet, I'll just make that clear. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:34.480 Again, the these things are so celebrated in certain circles, and again, the very sermons and overall kind of vibe of the church is that if if you're not being blessed with you know financial gain and material success, it must mean that you're doing something wrong in God's eyes and you lack faith. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:35.680 Right? 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:49.839 And while that can take over churches and all of that, I would bet that you know, pretty much you know, every one of us here has that desire for you know the comfort of of wealth, you know, kind of tugging at our hearts constantly. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:22:01.680 I wonder how how much of us have yearned for just a little bit more money, just uh you know, a more flashy car or or a more More opulent vacation. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:04.880 I mean, just this week alone, we probably wrestled with this. 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:08.880 It becomes so easily, so, so selfish and so sinful. 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:14.240 And if we're not careful, it can even turn us into oppressors. 00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.200 Right? 00:22:15.279 --> 00:22:22.400 This is not a pursuit to be imitated, but a desire to be resisted. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:26.799 You might be thinking, well, okay, how do I do that? 00:22:27.599 --> 00:22:27.920 Right? 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:35.920 Because we can notice that that desire in our hearts, and we we sense that we're going down that path, but you know, how do I get off it? 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:39.920 Well, let's get this up on the screen here. 00:22:40.160 --> 00:22:46.640 I will intentionally resist the pursuit of what only decays by doing these three things. 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:50.960 Here's the first one: guarding my heart from the love of money. 00:22:51.519 --> 00:22:51.839 Right? 00:22:51.920 --> 00:22:55.119 This is something that we need to, again, we need to be intentional about this. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.160 Right? 00:22:56.319 --> 00:23:01.440 1 Timothy 6, verse 10, I referred to it just last week, actually, but I think it's good to share it again. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:07.119 It says, for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 00:23:07.839 --> 00:23:08.160 Right? 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:20.240 If you sense that, like, and I don't just want money so that I can, you know, care for my family and and care for others, you know, the poor and the needy and all of that, but I want it because I want it. 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:23.279 You sense that that's an unhealthy desire, then. 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:25.599 You need to be very intentional about this. 00:23:26.880 --> 00:23:28.160 You need to be prayerful. 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:30.160 Lord, would you expose my heart? 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:32.960 Is there any evil way within me? 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:40.400 It requires, you know, being in the word and maybe studying about finances and about the pursuit of riches and wealth and all of these things. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:43.519 It requires some brutal honesty on your part. 00:23:43.920 --> 00:23:47.119 Perhaps some real accountability. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:56.799 Real accountability, where you're like coming before you know somebody and saying, This is my heart, and this is where I'm at, and this is not good, this is evil, and I'm really struggling. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:58.000 And can you pray for me? 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:02.880 And listen, can we, can you be like a real strength and help for me in this time? 00:24:04.640 --> 00:24:13.839 It of course involves being intentionally repentant from the heart, and perhaps, depending on where you're at, perhaps, counseling. 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:20.559 Now, I I don't want to in that, you know, set up counseling as for, you know, only the most screwed up go to counseling. 00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:23.359 No, everyone should be going to counseling. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:26.000 No matter you know what the issue is. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:28.720 But perhaps this is one for you. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:33.599 How can I guard my heart from the love of money? 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:44.160 I will intentionally resist the pursuit of what only decays by, second of all, secondly, refusing to envy the success of others or of the ungodly. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:59.119 Okay, Psalm 37, verse 1, it says, fret not yourself because of evildoers, be not envious of wrongdoers, for they will soon fade away like the grass and wither like the green herb. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:05.279 Don't ref don't don't envy the success of the ungodly. 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:13.599 Instead, prayerfully, and again, with all those other things we just mentioned, maybe through counseling and accountability and all of that stuff, learn to live for what is eternal. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:26.799 You want someone to imitate, find somebody who can handle wealth and and has the right heart towards materialism and all of that stuff, and and imitate them. 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:34.400 Finally, last of all, use what blessings I'm given to bless others. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:46.079 Hebrews 13, verse 16 says, do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:46.880 Right? 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:55.039 Ultimately, I you know, I think all of us here, we've we've all been blessed enough and and have enough to be a blessing to others. 00:25:55.279 --> 00:26:03.200 I think it's very easy for us to kind of get ourselves in the mindset of, well, my you know, my savings account isn't quite big enough. 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:10.799 And when it reaches that, you know, insert whatever your number is there, then then I will be more generous. 00:26:11.119 --> 00:26:14.559 Then I will watch out for the person who could use my help. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:20.559 Now, listen, in in Canada, we are we are stupidly blessed, right? 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:25.680 We we have so, so much, and we can be such a blessing to other people. 00:26:25.839 --> 00:26:37.680 It may not be through writing a check, but it might be just through our hospitality and using the gifts that God has has given us to bless other people. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:47.119 Listen, Christ followers intentionally resist imitating the worldly pursuits of those who do not love God. 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:50.720 And if we're not intentional about this, that word is so key. 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:56.720 If we're not intentional about this, we inevitably just succumb to those pursuits ourselves. 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:59.599 All right, here's the second thing. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:08.960 The Lord will deal decisively with those who oppress me, so I will trust him to avenge every injustice committed against me. 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:11.759 Take a look at verse four there. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:17.920 It says, Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields. 00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:22.960 Okay, so there's talking here about wealthy landowners, like I've mentioned, right? 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:36.160 It was it was common in the Greco-Roman age that that these wealthy, you know, pagan landowners would routinely oppress their workers, right? 00:27:36.240 --> 00:27:40.480 This is a common thing that we find in all kinds of literature, right? 00:27:40.559 --> 00:27:41.839 And so this is what was happening. 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:47.759 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, he says. 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:53.759 So they were cheating their laborers out of the wage that they had earned. 00:27:53.920 --> 00:27:54.079 Right? 00:27:54.240 --> 00:28:00.079 So they're holding back money from them, and and this is where some of the oppression was coming in. 00:28:00.160 --> 00:28:11.599 He says, which you have kept back by fraud, take a look, he says, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord. 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.799 All right. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:21.839 Now, I don't know about you, but this just kind of naturally draws my mind back to what we read in Exodus chapter two. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:27.200 And you remember, this is when Israel was under slavery to the Egyptians. 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:33.119 And you remember the burden and the difficulty and the challenge that that was for these people. 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:34.319 Here's what it says. 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:44.799 It says, During those many days, the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery, and they cried out for help. 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:59.279 Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God, and God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, God saw the people of Israel, and God knew. 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:10.160 Listen, when God's people are treated like dirt or or worse by the unrighteous. 00:29:10.400 --> 00:29:34.000 And when that continues, and when that that grows and it intensifies, and and it just gets gets more diabolical and more painful, and and it seems like God doesn't care, or that he even hears our cries, or he hears our groaning, or or he hears our prayers, or any of that, we can all take comfort knowing that he hears it all. 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:34.640 Right? 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:38.720 Every single cry, he sees it all. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:40.799 And he knows, right? 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:48.240 God's heart breaks for his children. 00:29:49.680 --> 00:29:51.279 It breaks for them. 00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:56.720 When we're hated and we're persecuted and we're cheated. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:02.480 And on top of that, he is gonna do something about it. 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:12.079 When you look at the ver at the end of verse 4 again there, and how it calls him, James calls him the Lord of hosts. 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:12.640 Right? 00:30:12.880 --> 00:30:14.799 This is a reference to God. 00:30:14.880 --> 00:30:16.559 It's so easily passed over. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:18.640 We just kind of glance over it when we read that, right? 00:30:18.799 --> 00:30:22.880 But this is a reference to God as the commander of an army. 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.519 Right? 00:30:23.839 --> 00:30:25.279 This is pretty epic here, right? 00:30:25.440 --> 00:30:32.240 David, he called Yahweh the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel. 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:35.519 That's what he says in 1 Samuel chapter 17. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:55.359 In his Isaiah chapter 6, the prophet calls God the Lord of hosts, referring to him as the Lord of heavenly hosts, meaning that God has an army of angels at his disposal that he can just send to do his bidding whenever he decides. 00:30:55.839 --> 00:31:03.839 And so when James here, when he calls God the Lord of hosts, it's a clear picture of impending battle. 00:31:04.480 --> 00:31:18.000 Okay, do not forget, Christian, do not forget the immense power of your God and that he is coming to avenge his people who have been mistreated by those who oppose him. 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:28.480 Now, James, I mean, he isn't even done describing what those injustices being committed were like. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:30.240 Take a look at verse 6. 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:34.400 He's speaking to those who oppress again. 00:31:34.559 --> 00:31:40.160 He says, You have you have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:43.839 You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:46.000 Again, a picture of a final judgment. 00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:46.480 Right? 00:31:46.559 --> 00:31:51.039 You have condemned, and look at this, murdered the righteous person. 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:53.920 He does not resist you. 00:31:54.559 --> 00:32:02.079 The NIV there translates that last little phrase there as the innocent one who is not opposing you. 00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:02.720 Right? 00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:05.119 These believers, they weren't doing anything wrong. 00:32:06.880 --> 00:32:10.240 They weren't fighting back against these wealthy landowners. 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:17.359 They weren't doing anything to resist, and yet these they were just coming after them, and it was ugly. 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:35.759 Now it's it's possible, I suppose, that these rich landovers, you know, or landowners, overcome by their lust to become even more wealthy, you know, were personally committing acts of murder. 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:37.519 I guess that's possible. 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.240 Right? 00:32:38.400 --> 00:32:56.400 But it's more likely that James means this to say that through the exploitation of their workers, the you know, the harvesters, which is the word the text used there, and and by cheating them out of their wages, these economically poor Christians, we've talked about that, right? 00:32:56.480 --> 00:33:05.039 They had to leave their homes, they were scattered about, they had to find new vocations, and they didn't have money and all of that, so they were already very, very poor. 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:17.039 Well, they they they were becoming even more poor, so poor to the point where they were unable to afford food, which means that some of them were literally what? 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:19.200 Starving to death. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:32.160 And so James is saying here that God holds these wealthy landowners, their employers, personally responsible for the deaths of these people. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:51.839 Now, as you and I, as we read that, and you know, as we think about that, or or or as we consider the injustices that have been committed to those who who we know, or or or even to us, and and maybe it's gotten ugly and it's been difficult. 00:33:52.240 --> 00:33:57.440 I think it's only natural that that we're filled with all kinds of emotions about that. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:03.680 Probably a mixture of anger, right, and and and righteous anger. 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:09.199 I think there's there's probably some fear mixed with that as well, as we don't know what's gonna happen. 00:34:09.280 --> 00:34:11.119 Is this gonna get even worse? 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:17.840 There there's a sense of disgust and and and disdain towards the people that are treating us poorly. 00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:21.199 There's, I think, also a desire for vengeance. 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:21.760 Right? 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:31.519 We want payback, we want to get even with all of this, we want to avenge the wrongs, and I think we desire to see this evil punished. 00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:43.760 As Christians, though, I think we probably also feel somewhat, at least, conflicted about these things. 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:56.639 Because we know that these fierce emotions, you know, as natural and as strong as they are, they're they're not always coming from the right place. 00:34:57.360 --> 00:34:57.679 Right? 00:34:57.840 --> 00:35:06.800 And I think on some level, especially if we've been you know Christians for a while, we know, right, that we should we should probably leave these things in the hands of of the Lord. 00:35:06.960 --> 00:35:15.199 And, you know, again, if we're really honest, we know that you know we deserve punishment too. 00:35:15.280 --> 00:35:17.119 It's not it's not so long ago. 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:21.599 You know, we can all point back to a time where we didn't know Jesus Christ, right? 00:35:21.679 --> 00:35:27.920 And our sin was a stench in his nostrils, and you know, we needed forgiveness. 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:30.960 And so as we kind of think about all these things, it's complex, right? 00:35:31.039 --> 00:35:48.480 There's all these layers that we're sort of you know trying to wade through and think through, and you know, we're reminded again of God's grace towards us, and you know, how we have received Jesus, and we think about the cross, and we think about you know his resurrection and what Christ has done. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:59.599 So sometimes as we're kind of sorting through it all, at least I do, I kind of ask myself the question, what do I do here? 00:36:00.400 --> 00:36:03.840 Like, how do I handle myself properly? 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.119 Right? 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:12.000 Like, how do we actually trust the Lord to avenge every injustice? 00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:14.239 How do we do that? 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:32.480 I'm gonna give us five things here, and I would not by any means say that this is exhaustive, but trusting him to avenge means no less than these five things. 00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:34.400 Here's the first one. 00:36:34.719 --> 00:36:36.719 It means that I will not avenge myself. 00:36:37.440 --> 00:36:39.199 I will not avenge myself. 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:41.599 Romans 12, verse 9 says this. 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:48.880 It says, Beloved, never avenge yourself, but leave it to the wrath of God. 00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:55.599 For it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. 00:36:56.320 --> 00:36:56.639 Right? 00:36:56.719 --> 00:37:10.400 So if you're feeling that that anger, and and it's it's just white hot rage and it's and it's boiling, and you're having a hard time, you know, keeping a lid on that. 00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:23.679 And it's it's coming out of you, and maybe it's coming out in your attitude, and maybe it's coming out in your in your words, maybe it's coming out in the way you conduct yourself online, and all of that. 00:37:23.840 --> 00:37:26.239 Listen, that that's something to be surrendered. 00:37:26.559 --> 00:37:28.239 That's something you need to give over to the Lord. 00:37:28.320 --> 00:37:32.559 I'm telling you right now, you you can't you can't make that go away on your own. 00:37:32.800 --> 00:37:33.119 Right? 00:37:33.199 --> 00:37:34.800 You're not gonna be able to. 00:37:35.360 --> 00:37:38.239 Surrender that desire for revenge. 00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:43.440 Surrender that desire for the other person to look bad. 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:58.079 Surrender, you know, where that is sin in your heart, that desire for retribution, for that, you know, getting even and payback and winning the battle and making that person look foolish and you conquering them and all of that. 00:37:58.159 --> 00:38:00.800 That's all that's all in God's hands. 00:38:01.360 --> 00:38:05.440 He tells us very clearly never avenge yourself. 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:09.039 Vengeance is it's in the hands of the Lord. 00:38:09.440 --> 00:38:09.760 Right? 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:13.679 He will do a much better job of it than you ever will. 00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:20.559 On top of that, trusting him to avenge means I will leave the timing to him. 00:38:21.840 --> 00:38:31.039 Luke 18, verse 7 and 8 says, and will not God give justice to his elect, that's a church, who cry to him day and night? 00:38:31.360 --> 00:38:34.239 Will he delay long over them? 00:38:35.039 --> 00:38:39.280 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. 00:38:40.719 --> 00:38:45.360 Now, this is a challenge to how we think about time, isn't it? 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:51.280 Because we often think, well, there's nothing fast about this, you know, justice of the Lord, right? 00:38:51.440 --> 00:38:56.079 It's been days now, it's been weeks, it's been decades. 00:38:56.960 --> 00:39:00.239 And I seem to see no answer from the Lord. 00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:05.679 And I'm questioning his goodness, I'm questioning his justice in this. 00:39:08.480 --> 00:39:15.679 But again, it was just the other week that we looked at how our life is amiss, right? 00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:33.679 And when we think about the time frame of our life and the brevity of life and the fragility of life, and how how God exists, he has no beginning, he has no end, and he sees the whole the whole timeline of of human history all out in front of him. 00:39:34.880 --> 00:39:40.639 When you think about that, and you kind of zoom out, it is all gonna happen pretty quickly. 00:39:41.920 --> 00:39:45.199 He will give justice to us speedily. 00:39:46.960 --> 00:39:52.320 Listen, the justice that we want to see a people receive, we may never see it. 00:39:52.880 --> 00:39:54.239 You gonna be okay with that? 00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:57.679 It may not happen in this life. 00:39:58.239 --> 00:40:00.800 It might, but it might not. 00:40:01.119 --> 00:40:02.800 It might be in the next. 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:10.639 Trusting him to avenge means I will suffer willingly for his sake. 00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:13.760 This is a hard one for us as well. 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:26.239 But here's what 1 Peter 4.19 says it says, Therefore, let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful creator while doing good. 00:40:27.360 --> 00:40:29.360 I want to tell you this right now. 00:40:30.159 --> 00:40:34.159 God never promises you comfort in this life. 00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:39.519 Some of you want me to tell you the opposite. 00:40:40.559 --> 00:40:46.880 You know, if you just behave a certain way, God will give you all the desires of your heart. 00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:52.800 God will give you everything you want, God will remove the discomfort. 00:40:54.239 --> 00:40:57.920 I can't tell you that because the Bible doesn't tell us that. 00:40:58.480 --> 00:41:02.000 What God promises is actually the opposite. 00:41:02.719 --> 00:41:04.320 He promises suffering. 00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:11.119 And he promises that there will be pain, but he also promises that he will be with us in it. 00:41:12.320 --> 00:41:20.079 A willingness to suffer is such a key component to our growth in Christ. 00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:28.400 Trusting Him to avenge means fourthly, I will not expect a better hand in life. 00:41:29.920 --> 00:41:43.920