James 1:11c

New American Standard Version

For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

Pastor’s Paraphrase

          When that day comes, none of their business success or material possessions will matter at all for it will all be gone. Only the eternal rewards of a life lived in obedience to the Master will last!

 “How does this help me become more like Him?”

          I heard the story about a man in our community who didn’t trust or believe in banks.  He became very successful in his business and made a substantial amount of money.  He didn’t believe that the bank was a safe place to deposit his earnings and so he hid the cash – many thousands of dollars – underneath his mattress and in other hidden areas in his home.  He felt that he could watch over his money, keep it safe and secure, and have it readily available when he chose to spend it.

          One day something happened that he never expected.  While he was away from his home, it caught fire.  Before he could do anything to save his home or the contents – including his life savings in cash – it was all reduced to a pile of rubble and ashes.  Virtually all he had remaining were the “clothes on his back”.

          There will come a day when the fire of God’s judgment will burn away everything that is not eternal.  1 Corinthians 3:11-15 teaches us that only things that are done for God’s glory will survive this consuming fire that will come on the day that James mentions in our verse today.  Those things done in this life only to meet the demands of this life and other things that were done with wrong motives will all be swept away and consumed.  All that will remain will be what was done in obedience to the will of the Father to bring glory to the Son.

          We spend much of our lives on things that are important and even necessary but are not eternal.  It is not wrong to work hard to make a living to meet the material needs of our family.  We are taught that to fail to do so is a sin.  However, we must not become so caught up in the important things of life that we fail to involve ourselves in what is eternal.  We must not become so consumed by things that are essential but temporary that we neglect those things that are spiritual and eternal.

          When we stand before the Lord at His return, all those material and financial possessions will be thrown on the all-consuming bonfire of His judgment.  Only the spiritual crowns of gold, silver, and precious jewels obtained by times of submission and service to the Master will be left to bring before Him.  May we not be stuffing our mattresses with the things that will just be burned up in the fire on that day.  Let us be constantly making deposits in the accounts of eternity so that we may have an offering to bring when we bow before Him on that great day of His return.

“How should I pray for Him to change my life?”

Pray that the Lord would help you to keep material possessions in their proper place and perspective.  Ask Him to give you the wisdom and desire to store up treasure in Heaven.  Evaluate everything you do today in the light of its eternal value.

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