Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon this week. I thank the Lord for providing the opportunity to post this sermon. I hope that all of you are in good health and doing well.
Last week, we began our discussion of James 5. We saw that the Lord does not look favorably on those who hoard their wealth especially since we are living in the last days. Those who have more than enough are expected to help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. We are to help the poor and the oppressed and to try to make this world the best it can be before the return of Jesus when He will bring justice, righteousness and peace and make all things new.
We also looked at the fact that many who are wealthy have made their millions and billions by exploiting those who work for them. Many do not pay a living wage to their employees while they themselves live in luxury.
Today, I want us to focus on the fact that James tells us that God hears the cries of the poor and the oppressed who cry out to Him for justice. Throughout the Bible, we are told that the Lord cares about the poor, and He will judge those who oppress the poor, the needy and the vulnerable.
In the first five books of the Old Testament, God provides laws that His people were to follow when they came into the land of promise. Many of those laws concern the proper treatment of those who are poor. God wanted to make sure that the poor were taken care. He established the Sabbath years and the Year of Jubilee to make sure that the poor didn't get buried in debt. He also ordered that every few years that the entire tithe be given to help those who are poor.
All throughout the Psalms, we are told that the Lord hears the cry of the poor and needy and defends them. One verse in particular is Psalm 140:12 that states, "I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy."
Both Isaiah and Jeremiah are clear that one of the reasons that God brings judgment on the land is because people are mistreating and exploiting the poor. Jeremiah 5:28 states, "Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not plead the case of the fatherless to win it, they do not defend the rights of the poor."
One of the great passages of the New Testament is the Magnificat of Mary the Mother of Jesus. In her words she says, "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty."
Jesus is very clear that part of His judgment of the Earth when He returns will be based on how those who were the least among us were treated. Jesus said, "When you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me." Jesus says that those who do not do good to the least of these will be cast away from His presence.
I believe that it is clear from the Scriptures that it is important for a person to earn money in a proper manner. No one should be exploited. Workers should be paid a proper wage. Those who have money should use it to help the poor and those who are in need.
Those who follow Jesus have the obligation to stand up for the poor and the oppressed. We must do what we can with what God has given us to help others and not just get more and more for ourselves. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. There places in the US where the virus is still spreading. Many nations of the world are still having problems. Pray that vaccines will get out where needed, and that the sick will recover. Thanks be to God that progress is being made.
Pray that the heat in the Western US and Canada will end.
Pray that survivors can still be found in the building that collapsed in Flordia.
Continue to pray for peace. Let us concentrate our prayers for peace in Afghanistan and Chad this week.
For our prayer focus countries, let us pray for those in Japan and North Korea. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue in James. I will post the verses on Wednesday, and I will have a midweek post. May God bless you all.
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