FAITH: Time and Treasure
Study of James
Week 7
Many years ago, a dear friend of mine was tragically killed in a plane crash. Even as I write these words, that day appears in my mind.
He was a loving husband, engaged father, an available friend but most of all, he was an active Christ follower. He and his wife lived purposefully for Christ. They faithfully attended church, opened their home for Bible study and were givers in all areas of their lives.
As I looked at this week’s lesson, I thought of him. My friend lived with an awareness of James’ message, both his time and treasure belonged to the Lord. Yes, the two Ts. It is an overriding truth that I believe every Christian needs to be conscious of.
James 4:13-17 provided a message for young believers in their new Christ centered faith.
“You who say….we shall go to such and such a city and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.”(v13)
What’s wrong with that you might ask? These people were just trying to make a living.
Well, James clarified. “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow…you are just a vapor...appearing a little while and then vanishing away.”(v14)
He provided a narrative for their thinking, “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that.’” (v15)
James acknowledged what my friend knew. As Christians, our days are not our own.
It is sheer arrogance on my part to assume that I know God’s best for me each day.
Our faith in Christ should cause us to submit every day and every plan to Him.
James moves the conversation from dependency on God with our time to dependency on God with our treasure.
James 5:1-6 takes a firmer tone. It’s clear that he is writing to men who have bolstered their identities with their wealth. Their dependence clearly rests on their riches and those they can control with it.
But warning them, James says, “Your riches have rotted,...garments moth-eaten,…gold and silver rusted,… and will be a witness against you.” (v3).
His caution extends even further. “The pay of the laborers who mowed your fields and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you… you have fattened your hearts.” (v4-5)
Not only have these men built an identity on their wealth, they stole from good men, their workers, who could not defend themselves against such greed and power.
We stop and tell ourselves, “Well I would never do that! I’m a good person, fair, and giving.”
But when our dependency rests on anything other than Christ, in measure, we are guilty, aren’t we?
My friend had no idea that when he got on a plane that morning, he would take his last earthly breath and in the blink of an eye, behold his Savior. He wasn’t perfect, as none of us are. But I can tell you this, he was a man of faith who willingly yielded both his time and treasure to God.
That is a lesson I can learn from.
jeannaswann
#nowuntohimwhoisable
Question for discussion (your email is never posted or shared)
Perhaps you have experienced the same type of loss that caused you to pause and re-evaluate an area of your life. Has it changed your thoughts of dependency on God?