John Lloyd - Authentic Christianity Pt. 11

Authentic Christianity

Authentic Christianity:  Practical Wisdom from the book of James

How to Respond to Injustice

December 3, 2017

James 5:1-11

Pastor John Lloyd

Passage:  James 5:1-11

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. 6You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. 7Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Principle:   God can give me a generous response to unfairness.   

I.               There are different shapes and sizes of unfairness: 

James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

A.    Misuse of resources

James 5:2 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.  ( I Timothy 6:17-18)

B.    Unfair and withheld wages

James 5:4 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.

God hears the cries of the poor and oppressed!  He is their defender.

C.   Extreme self-indulgence

James 5:5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter.

D.   Murder of the innocent

James 5:6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Life is not fair.   Difficulties are normal and necessary.

II.              There are many godly ways to respond to injustice:

A.   Be patient.

James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.

Action: Keep sowing good seeds.  (2 Corinthians 9:6-9, Galatians 6:9)

B.    Don’t run.

James 5:8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

The trial is not evidence that you should run but that you should stay. 

“Perseverance in adversity cleanses us.” 

Action:  Ask God to give you a beyond earth viewpoint. 

C.  Remember how God has helped you and others in the past.

James 5:10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Action:   Spend time remembering God’s faithfulness to you. 

D.   Focus on what God is doing in you, not what is happening to you.

James 5:11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

James 1:2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

The prize is Christlikeness, not comfort.  God never wastes a hurt.

Action:  Look for the platform to help others in a similar place.

E.   Help me to be radically fair and generous. 

James 5:11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

I Timothy 6:17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share. (I Tim.6:19)

No limit what God can do through His generous people in an unfair world.  Thank you for being a part of impacting the Bay Area with God’s generous love and resources!

Growth Group Questions for week of December 3, 2017

1.   How is it going with your reading plan?  Sun. Revelation 3 Mon. Revelation 4 Tues. Revelation 5 Wed. Revelation 6 Thurs. Revelation 7 Fri. & Sat. reflection. Pick out one verse that ministered to you. Share a truth you’ve been learning with a friend.

2.   Read James 5:1-11.  Try and put in your own words what is happening here, what response is suggested and why?

3.   Starter:  What have you had difficulty being patient for recently?

4.   Read James 5:1-6.  Why according to James, should the rich weep and wail?  Read verse 3.  Why do you think James took the fact that they “stored up riches in the last days” so seriously?  Read 5:4. How does God respond to the oppressed?

5.   What warnings in this passage do you see as being relevant to you? Think of a time when you were blessed by the generosity of a fellow believer.  How has the generosity of others affected your life?

6.   Read James 5:7-11.  How would you describe what it’s like for you to wait for the return of the Lord?  How does James encourage his readers to be patient for the appearing of the Lord?  Read 5:9. How should being patient affect our speech?  Read 5:10-11.  How are the prophets and Job examples of patience? 

7.   What aspects of God have you seen that you should focus on and why?  (See James 5:11b, Hebrews 12:3)

8.   Read I Timothy 6:17-18. How can you use your financial resources for God’s glory?  How can sharing your wealth improve the state of the world?   Pray for yourself that God will give you opportunities to be generous. 

I Timothy 6:17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.