Money (Bible Study on the Book of James)

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Today’s topic from our Bible study in the book of James is “Money.”  Recently, our pastor preached a sermon series on the Book of James.  These are my Bible study notes based on his sermon.

Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

(Proverbs 30:8-9)

Money:  James 5:1-6

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure! Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and put to death the righteous man; he does not resist you.  James 5:1-6

Avoid the ungodly and wrong uses of money.

Don’t be a hoarder.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. – Matthew 6:19-20  

Don’t be a cheater.

You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns. You shall give him his wages on his day before the sun sets, for he is poor and sets his heart on it; so that he will not cry against you to the Lord and it become sin in you. – Deuteronomy 24:14-15 

Don’t be a self-server.

Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to words of knowledge. – Proverbs 23:12  

Apply the Godly and right use of money.

How we get money:   

 Don’t obtain money dishonestly.

Make sure the method doesn’t hurt your health.

Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it. – Proverbs 23:4

Make sure your method of obtaining money doesn’t hurt your family.

Make sure your method of obtaining money doesn’t hurt your testimony! 

Make sure your method of obtaining money doesn’t hurt others. “Don’t step on people’s heads while your climbing the ladder to success.”

How we guard money:

Saving money is encouraged.  It helps us prepare for the future.  This is different from hoarding. 

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up. – Proverbs 21:20 

How we give money:

There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and it results only in want. – Proverbs 22:24 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. – Matthew 6:20 

Audit yourself:

Take a look at the way you manage your money and see if you are being obedient in the scriptural principles of this message.

Final Note

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. – 1 Timothy 6:17

You'll find all my posts about this study on the book of James here.