Rich in the Lord – James 5:1-6
Pastor Tan Thai · Sep 5, 2015
This sermon from James 5:1-6 examines the difference between material wealth and spiritual richness, warning those who gain wealth by exploiting the poor. The example of Jesus Christ — who though rich became poor for our sake — is held up as the defining model for all believers.
The sermon opens by analyzing the context of the letter of James, particularly how James 5:1-6 connects with the warning in 4:13 — both reminding readers that time and money are gifts from God, not personal possessions. The pastor distinguishes four combinations of material and spiritual wealth or poverty, drawing on biblical figures such as Job, the poor widow, the rich young ruler, and the church at Laodicea.
The central section emphasizes the believer's responsibility toward the poor. Scripture clearly warns that oppressing the poor dishonors the Creator (Proverbs 14:31), and the Lord of Sabaoth will judge those who enrich themselves by exploiting others (James 5:4). The sermon uses the tragic story of the Bangladesh garment factory collapse to illustrate the real suffering of the poor, reminding the congregation not to romanticize poverty or view it as God's punishment.
The pastor identifies three specific sins of the wealthy believers James addresses: making the accumulation of wealth the chief purpose of life, defrauding and exploiting others to gain riches, and living in self-indulgent luxury while professing faith in Christ. Psalms 62 and 73 are cited to address the difficult question of why the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. The answer given is that God remembers every injustice and will bring judgment at the final day.
The central model of the sermon is Jesus Christ, who though rich as the Son of God made Himself poor through the Incarnation — born in a manger, raised in Nazareth, befriending fishermen and sinners, and dying on the cross. Paul's words in 2 Corinthians 8:9 and Philippians 2:6-8 are cited to explain Christ's self-emptying. The purpose of His poverty was so that we might become spiritually rich.
The sermon concludes with a practical call to the wealthy: do not boast in riches, but use what God has given to help the poor, following the example of Jesus. Isaiah 58:10-11 and an illustration about a rich man standing before a silver-backed mirror are used to close — when silver is added to glass, a person sees only himself and no longer sees others, a vivid image of how self-centered wealth blinds us to the needs around us.