Day #64

Begin this time in prayer:)

As we were reading James 5:1-6 last week, we were studying how some rich folks, in James’ time, sinfully got their wealth… 

1.    They held back the wages of the poor they had working for them, which meant they did not pay them at all.

2.    They controlled the courts when these poor tried to take them to court to get what was rightfully owed to them.  Because of the rich people’s wealth, they could bribe judges to be on their side. 

If you were unable to study on the above, I encourage you to do so.  These studies are an easy read.  Simply click… Day #62 and Day #63.

Today’s lesson is going to be on how these rich folks used their money.  I hope you were able to read the introduction and foreword to Kisses from Katie over the weekend, because this is where our lesson will come to life.

Please read James 5:3-5 once more.

The way that these rich folks in James’ time used their wealth was sinful as well.  They did it in 3 ways.  We will be studying one a day for the next 3 days.

1.    They stored it up (v. 3).

2.    They kept others from benefiting from it (v. 4).

3.    They lived in luxury (v. 5).

Let’s start with the first one today…

THEY STORED IT UP (v. 3)

Just like we had learned last week that having money is not wrong, storing or saving your money is not wrong either.  What is wrong, in the eyes of God, is if we do each sinfully.

Please read 2 Corinthians 12:14, 1 Timothy 5:8, and Matthew 25:27. 

You see, these rich men hoarded up stuff like grain, gold, and garments (clothing) but they owed money to their employees.  They thought they were wealthy because of their possessions (click… Matthew 6:19), but they should have been using their money for God’s glory.  Instead of “laying up treasure in heaven”, these men were selfishly guarding their treasure.  In 10 years from the time James speaks to these evil rich, God allows the Romans to come in to Jerusalem and take it all away.

What does it mean to “lay up treasures in heaven?” 

Please read Matthew 19:16-30.  As you read, keep in mind “…there is no one who does good, no not one” James 3:12.

So must you be just like this rich young ruler and sell all you have and give all you earn to the poor?  I don’t know.  This is between you and the Lord.  But, I do know why Jesus asked this of this guy… coveting stuff was the sin that tangled up this man and Jesus wanted to expose that.  After all, look at his response to Jesus’ answer… he walked away sad.

To lay up treasures in heaven is to use all we have to share the love of Christ with others.  You and I possess many things, but we do not own them.  God is the owner of EVERYTHING and we are the stewards of what he has allowed us to have.

Steward (definition) – one who manages another’s things.

Some of us say words like “I earned ___” or “I worked hard for ___,” and while this may be true, it is still a blessing from the Lord that you have ___ at all.  You see, there are many others who worked just as hard for something and they may have received very little for their labor, or maybe nothing at all.  Are we saying that we are somehow more special or more deserving than them?  What a boastful statement!! 

What we possess and use are merely things when they are not used to honor GOD.  What He allows us to have should be used to serve Him.  This is how you lay up treasure in heaven.  This is investing in eternity.

TARGET of the DAY

How sad to “lay up treasures for the last days” like the evil rich in James’ day.  We should lay up treasures in heaven.  Remember the Bible does not put down saving or even investing, but it does put down hoarding.  Please begin reading Chapter 1 in Kisses from Katie.