James, A Faith That Works: The Wealth Test (and the Waiting Test) James 4:13-5:12
The Wealth Test (and the Waiting Test)
Planning, power, patience, and the righteous Judge
Framing Verse (James 1:2–4)
Trials aren’t wasted. God uses them to produce endurance so we become mature and complete. Keep that lens on as James tackles money, planning, power, and patience.
1) Planning Without God: The Sin of Practical Atheism (James 4:13–17)
“Today or tomorrow we will…make a profit…”
“You are a vapor.”
“Instead you ought to say, If the Lord wills…”
James isn’t anti–business or anti–profit. He is anti–arrogance. The problem isn’t planning; it’s planning as if God doesn’t exist.
Kingdom posture
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Plan diligently, submit humbly.
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Hold calendars and cash open-handed: “If the Lord wills…”
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Knowing the right thing—and not doing it—is sin (v.17).
Simple reset: Before a decision, whisper: “Lord, what’s Your will?” Then obey.
2) A Prophetic Rebuke to Unjust Wealth (James 5:1–6)
James turns Old-Testament-prophet hot:
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Hoarding rots (vv.2–3).
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Withholding wages cries to the Lord of Hosts (v.4).
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Luxury without mercy fattens the heart “in a day of slaughter” (v.5).
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Power used to crush the righteous will face the Judge (v.6).
This is not a ban on abundance; it’s a ban on oppression. Wealth is stewardship, not sovereignty.
If you lead or employ
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Pay promptly and fairly.
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Use leverage to lift, not exploit.
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Integrate God’s will into hiring, paying, and planning.
3) When You’re the One Being Wronged: The Waiting Test (James 5:7–11)
“Be patient… the farmer waits… the early and latter rains… the coming of the Lord is near.”
When injustice hits you, James gives three commands:
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Be patient like a farmer (vv.7–8). Sow obedience; wait for God’s timing.
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Strengthen your heart (v.8). Anchor in the nearness of the Lord.
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Do not grumble against one another (v.9). Suffering doesn’t excuse sinning.
Examples:
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Prophets: faithful under fire (v.10).
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Job: didn’t understand the “why,” but discovered the Lord is compassionate and merciful (v.11).
Takeaway: God may not settle every account on your timetable, but He settles every account. Revenge is His department; trust is yours.
4) Tongues, Oaths, and Pressure (James 5:12)
Under pressure we say rash things. James says: don’t swear by anything. Let your “Yes” be yes and “No” be no. Integrity is your oath.
Practice under pressure
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Pause your mouth. Pray your motives.
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Speak less; mean more.
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Refuse vow-making from anger or fear.
5) Two Sides of One Coin
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To the wealthy/empowered: Include God in your plans, do justice, love mercy, pay fairly, lead humbly.
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To the wronged/oppressed: Be patient. Don’t grumble. Let God be Judge. He sees. He will make it right—even where earth never could.
A Week of Alignment (5 quick steps)
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Morning surrender: “If You will, I will.” (James 4:15)
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Pay-day righteousness: Audit payments, pricing, and promises. Make right anything outstanding (James 5:4).
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Mouth fast: One day with zero complaints; replace with prayer (James 5:9).
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Farmer faith: Do today’s faithful planting; leave the “rain” to God (James 5:7).
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Justice transfer: Write the name/situation you want to “fix,” then hand it to God in prayer (Romans 12:19 echo).
Prayer
Father, save us from planning as if You’re absent. Write “If the Lord wills” on our hearts and calendars. For those with power, give clean hands and just scales. For those under pressure, give patient endurance, guarded tongues, and strengthened hearts. We entrust injustice to You, righteous Judge. Make us mature and complete in Christ. Amen.
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