James 5:1-6 “Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 2 Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags.

3 Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. 4 For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

5 You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.” (NLT=New Living Translation)

1. How we use wealth will be evaluated when we stand before Jesus

This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment…

• How we use money is connected to our

_

• We are the

_ in this passage

2. Hoarding wealth while others suffer denies our faith

“Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay… You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire…You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.” (NLT)

• Did we use wealth to benefit only ourselves or

?
Proverbs. 3:27 “Do not withhold good from those…when it’s in your power to help them.” (NLT)

• Will we allow our faith to

_ how we use money?

I Timothy. 6:17-18 “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others.” (NLT)

 Don’t let wealth make you proud
 Don’t let wealth erode your trust in God
 God gave you wealth to enjoy and do good with it
 God wants you to use wealth to meet needs

3. Generosity is how we make our faith work with wealth

• God promises to

those who are generous to help others
Proverbs. 11:25 “The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” (NLT)

Proverbs. 22:9 “Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.” (NLT)

• Faith generosity does not result in

_

2 Corinthians. 9:7-8 “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.” (NLT)

• Making our faith work with generosity requires a

_

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Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think when the bible addresses the issue of money it often uses negative language or gives us warnings?
   

2. Discuss how you feel about God evaluating how we used money when we stand before Him someday?
   

3. Globally, we are all some of the richest people in the world. Most of us would qualify for the top 15% of annual global income. How does this make you feel? Are you comparing yourself with the top 1%? How do you think God views us with these resources?
   

4. We may not be rich landowners or business owners taking advantage of our workers, but we can still use our money only for ourselves. Besides ourselves, what else does God expect us to use our money for?
   

5. Discuss how generosity is how we make our faith work with money. Have you ever experienced how generosity actually produces more in your life rather than less? Share your experiences.
   

6. Are there some practical steps you need to take to develop your generosity habit so your faith can grow?