In today’s study, we examine James 5:1-6. Let’s take a few minutes to answer questions such as:

• How can riches become a liability?
• What do we take into consideration to better manage our money?
• How can we best steward the time, resources, money, and energy God has blessed me with?
• Are pleasures and luxuries acceptable to enjoy? How can we avoid over-indulging in them? I desire to be Biblically sound and take the Bible into account holistically. Each of us needs to prayerfully seek wisdom and discernment from God to arrive at the proper guidelines to make the best decisions possible. I do not have a one size fits all approach, but I am hopeful that this video’s Biblically rooted ideas may serve as a reminder of how vital stewardship can be.

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Note: I recommend that you never substitute my instruction or anyone else’s for your own time in the Bible. I can only hope that I faithfully deliver accurate exegesis and do my best to keep it free from error. If you have a Biblically sound reason to correct me on any of my content, I invite you to comment here or reach me in any form below.

When we value the things of God rather than the distractions of this world, we open the door to doing remarkable things. Perhaps this does not ring more true than when serving God in relative obscurity without caring about the world’s recognition. We need to operate with the right motivations. A good deed done in the name of fame, fortune, or another compromised reason is not equivalent to doing the same thing with pure motives. Of course, being that sin still lives in us, expecting perfection on our part would be naive and frankly impossible. However, God will ultimately weigh the intentions of our hearts regarding each of the actions we take, including those occurring in secret (Proverbs 21:2, Ecclesiastes 12:14).

If the world always applauds us and treats us exceptionally well, it should serve as a warning to us that something may be amiss (Luke 6:26). After all, as believers, we are in the process of sanctification (2 Timothy 2:14-21). If that is the case, we are becoming more Christ-like every day. However, given that the world crucified our Savior, Jesus Christ, can we expect to be like Him without having our share of battles? God willing, we do not have to suffer to the level He did, but some believers across the globe are actively persecuted for their faith daily. If we get too caught up with trying to do what is right in man’s eyes at the expense of our integrity with God, we need to examine and re-establish our priorities. 

There is no way for us to make an eternally meaningful impact without Jesus Christ operating in, with, and through us (Ephesians 2:10). It is an extraordinary honor that God not only allows but empowers each of us to share in the work He arranged for us to do before we were even born. Although God does not need us, He does want us to be His hands and feet here on earth (1 Corinthians 12:12-31). We cannot accomplish this mission by ourselves. Community is integral to building one another up in faith, discipleship, and offering all the components of support that we provide each other. Furthermore, we may encourage one another to pursue our respective callings through all the avenues God has opened for us. Even the most dedicated Christians can struggle outside the Church’s support network.

As much as the call to assemble as a Church is beneficial to all of us, we need to remember that our mission goes beyond the four walls we call home on Sundays. Stepping out into the world to reach the lost and provide support to those in need is a must. It is unrealistic to assume that everyone who needs to hear the Gospel will attend Church on Sunday without prompting. As much as we need to be recharged by God’s Word and refreshed by its contents in one form or another (preaching, music, Bible study, etc.), it is likewise vital to share the good news with the lost. We must make sure to take a step back from secular environments and friendships to be fed. Otherwise, we would unnecessarily risk having our walk with God derailed. Bad company corrupts good morals (1 Corinthians 15:33). As such, we need to be careful to guard our hearts and rely on God so that does not happen to us (Proverbs 4:23).

Ultimately, our legacy should truly rest on God’s will for us. There is no one-size-fits-all for how each of us ought to accomplish that. The mission may be the same in the sense of evangelizing the lost, obeying God’s commands, and serving people, but how we do all these things may vastly differ. I would venture to say we most effectively do all these things when we utilize the gifts, talents, and resources God has provided each of us for His glory. 

You may not yet be sure what that looks like for you. An excellent place to begin is to focus on the attributes that require the least amount of effort for you. For example, one of your friends from Church may have pointed out how good you are with art, singing, or producing/editing video content. With this in mind, you can approach your Church leaders and ask them where you might help with your skillset. I would suggest you not underestimate your abilities in such areas, for we are often our most prominent critics. All things considered, when you do everything as if unto God, it is only a matter of time before that untapped potential in you reveals itself (Colossians 3:23). 

If we grab hold of these Biblical ideas and diligently apply them, we will excel in the sight of God and delight Him (Psalms 37:23). As such, we will redeem our days here on earth and walk the path God has predestined each of us to pursue (Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 5:16-18). Leaving behind a meaningful legacy that echoes into eternity becomes a byproduct of consistently putting our faith into action as God ordains for us to do (James 2:14-16). Aspire not to lose sight of this core mission is integral because the devil and his demons will attempt to divert us from it (1 Peter 5:8-9). The world and its fleeting pleasures will quickly fade away (1 John 2:17), but if we avoid those and focus on the things of God, we will not need to live in regret. All those times where we face suffering in our walk with God are trivial sacrifices compared to the eternal blessings ahead (James 1:2-8, Romans 8:18).