Walk This Way “Practice Justice within Your Reach” (James 5:1-6) Billy Russell, January 6, 2019

                                 Walk This Way

                            “Practice Justice within Your Reach”

                                             

“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you... Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty (James 5:1, 4).

 

Happy New Year! This month we’ll finish the book of James with a study of the truths from chapter 5. Do you want to honor God in the New Year? Then, do what is right when you have the opportunity (James 4:17).

 

How you use what God gives you matters.

     God is the Giver of good gifts, including our new life in Jesus (1:17-18).

     God expects us to walk in the grace of truth (1:19, 26).

 

 

Honor God with your life’s resources.

     Steward = manage, invest, watch over well.

     Steward well your time, energy, talents, wealth, and dreams.

     Steward well your opportunity for something else too: to live justly.

 

 

Steward well the practice of justice within your reach (5:1ff).

     How does James know of this injustice?

     James is motivated to speak up for what the Lord Almighty hears (5:4).

     What does James expect of the “rich people” he’s confronting (5:5-6)?

     Look into your life- how can you be just and fair in dealing with people?

 

 

God hears/sees how we see and treat people (5:1ff; cf.2:1-13).

     This prophetic warning (cf. Job 13:28ff; Amos 4:1ff) serves to motivate

          us to please the Lord from the depths of His blessings to us.

      James echos Jesus’ teachings (Mt. 6:19-21; Lk.12:15-21).

      How will you respond to the need for justice within your reach?

      How will you steward well what God has richly given you?