Bro. David's Weekly Word
Bro. David's Weekly Word
February 4, 2016
From The Pastor's Heart:
We now come to the final chapter, chapter 5, as we pick up where we left off last time together. Now, the person who says there is no God is a fool. The Bible says that “the fool has said in his heart there is no God.” But as we saw last time together, he's not the biggest fool.
Yes, there is a bigger fool than the person who doesn't believe there is a God and that is the person who believes there is a God and yet doesn't live like it. They say they believe, yet you would never know it by the way they live, by the way they judge others, or by the way they treat others. For as we have recently learned, the way we treat others reveals what we believe about God.
Well that's what James was talking about at the end of chapter 4 and he continues that same thought in chapter 5. He just finished talking about wicked saints and now in chapter 5 he now is going to address wealthy sinners. Here are some people who were becoming wealthy by crooked means. They are so committed to making money they don’t have time for God or for the things of God.
I've seen more people ruined by prosperity than by adversity. Now I can hear some of you thinking, “Well this message is certainly not for me. I'm not wealthy.” Oh, is that so? Learn this: every message from God's Word may not be about you but every message from God's Word is for you!
You may not have $50,000.00 in your bank account, but every word found in this book was written with you in mind. We're told in 2 Timothy 3.15 that “all scripture is profitable.” It's not a question of having money; it's a question of what you're doing with your money.
Two men were talking about money. One said, “You know, it's true, money does talk.” His friend said, “It sure does. And all it ever says to me is good-bye.”
Money does talk and that's what I want to talk to you about in our time remaining. Let's begin reading in James 5.1-6:
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.”
We read here about some people who were accumulating and spending money with no thought of man or God and beginning in verse 1 we see THEIR MISERY IS REVEALED.
James is still describing for us a first century wheeler-dealer. Not only did they make their plans with no thought of God, they made their profits with no thought of man. And these businessmen learned the hard way that when you get money from ungodly, illegal ways sooner or later that same money that you thought would bring satisfaction will eventually bring sorrow!
The love of money will cause a man to forget about his love for God. It's true money talks! How you get it and how you use it say a lot about you! And we need to learn that God doesn't give it to simply store it up but rather to spread it out!
Plain and simple: God wants His wealth in circulation. Now, does that mean we're not to save or invest for retirement or plan for the future? No, of course not! In fact, you better be financially planning for the future. But it does mean that if you're just hoarding all your wealth rather than helping with your wealth, you will give an account to God. What good is wealth if it's not used? Ecc 5.13, “There is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun; riches kept for their owner to his hurt.” God doesn't give you wealth for self and self alone but for the good of mankind. You put it down: money that isn't used corrupts and ruins.
In fact, James uses three illustrations to prove it. To begin with, he calls our attention to how unused grain rots. In Verse 2 he says “Your riches are corrupted ...”. Do you see the word “riches?” It was the same word used in that day to describe a farmer's grain.
A person's wealth in that day was determined not by their bank account, but by the amount of grain that was stored in their barn. And here he's pointing out that their grain was rotten. And how does grain rot? By not using it!
Jesus talked about that in Matthew 6.19-21., “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rest destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” There are enough treasures stored up in the houses of God's people to turn this city upside down for Jesus Christ- money that will never be used, money that will never be needed.
Again, some of you have placed APBC in your wills; that money will be given after you've gone to heaven and that's wonderful. But why wait until you die to give it? Why not give it now while you're still alive so that you can see God use it! Unused grain rots!
Yes, grain rots but there's something else he mentions: how unused garments ruin. Verse 2, “... and your garments are moth-eaten.” Garments were another way to determine one's wealth. A little moth will eat away your expensive garments and before you realize it they are ruined and not fit to wear.
What is it that you have that you're not using for the Lord Jesus Christ and His church? It could be more than money: it could be the gift of teaching or some other spiritual gift God's given you. Whatever it is GET IT and USE IT. Don't let it rot and ruin! That's not why God gave it to you. Not to go unused, but to be used for the building of His Kingdom, for reaching others for Christ, for ministry and missions, for discipleship and evangelism to show this world that God is love.
Yes GRAIN ROTS and GARMENTS RUIN but also James shows us how unusedGOLD RUSTS. Verse 3, “Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” And again, like grain and garments unused, gold became corrupted. A pair of pliers will become corroded if you leave them outside. A hinge on a door will become corroded and useless if you don't use it from time to time. And James says that “your gold and silver are corroded.” GRAIN ROTS, GARMENT RUIN AND GOLD RUSTS!
What a waste! He's talking about unused wealth! God never intended for you not to use the wealth He made you a steward over. What He gives you is meant to be used! Used for His glory! Used for reaching the lost! Used for strengthening the saved! USED! Let God have access to everything you have!
Luke 6.38, “Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will measured back to you.”
That's why I'm asking you to join Billie and me as we give not only a tithe, but over a tithe as an offering to God and His work here. The Bible says that the “tithe is the Lord.” I was talking to a retired pastor recently and the conversation had to do with some of the dumb things he had done over the years as a pastor. He said that one Sunday he was preaching on tithing and asked all of the tithers to stand. And then said, “Now look around at all the people here today sitting down who are stealing from God.” Dumb, yes, but revealing! James shows us Their MISERY is REVEALED and next week he will show us their MOTIVE is REBUKED.
Upcoming Events at Aspen Park:
February 10 - Children’s Valentine Party in the Children’s Department
February 14 - Sunday School Conference lead by Bob Mayfield
February 21 - Women’s Bible Study Starts at 5:00 pm
March 6 - Start of Annie Armstrong Season of Prayer for Home Missions
March 27 - Easter Celebration at Aspen Park
April 8 - 10 - Youth DNOW Weekend.
April 17 - Aspen Park Community Festival Block Party
April 23 - Women’s Ministry conference at the Church
Sunday School Conference:
Our Sunday School conference will be Sunday, February 14th. This time together will be for all Sunday School teachers and those interested in supporting Sunday School growth. Our guest speaker for the morning service and the conference will be Bob Mayfield from the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. This Sunday is the last day to sign up for this very informative time.
Ladies' Bible Study-New Study Begins February 21st
Women's Ministry Bible Study - The Armor of God Session 1
Sunday, February 21, 2016
5:00pm 6:30pm
Ladies, you won't want to miss this Bible Study. It applies to all women, regardless of age, stage of life or any other way we might categorize ourselves.
Books are $13 and will be available at the study. Scholarships are available and confidential. The cost of a book should never keep you away from a Bible study!
They will meet at the north end of the education building, close to the preschool area.
Dates: February 21, February 28, March 6, March 20, April 3, April 10 & April 24
This Week's Needs at Arms Around Broken Arrow:
Please pick up an extra item as you are shopping and bring it by. We would love to see you and say thanks.
Canned Tomatoes
Laundry Soap
Shampoo
Small Cooking Oil
Women's Deodorant
Thank you for your support!
Bryan
Kids Kamp - June 13 - 16:
Kids Kamp enrollment is open for grades 3-6. The cost is $100. We have reserved 12 spots and once they are taken, enrollment will be closed. Enrollment packets will be available in the lobby of the Worship Center. You must return your packet and a $20 non-refundable deposit to the office. The deadline is Sunday, February 21st. Please call the office if you have any questions.
Word of the Week:
“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth”. -Psalm 46:10
Thank you for being such a loving and faithful people. I look forward to seeing each of you in Bible study and Worship. Please plan on being here and invite friends and family to come with you.
Blessed to be your pastor,
Bro. David