HOARDERS OR HEART GIVERS (8 OF 10)
by Ryan Heller
Scripture: James 5:1-6
This content is part of a series.
Hoarders or Heart Givers (8 of 10)
Series: Real Faith
Ryan Heller
James 5:1-6
Have you seen the Emmy-nominated AandE television show called Hoarders? They detail the lives of people who have a problem and an addiction, and people are trying to help them resolve their issues. One lady lives in a house with forty chickens, and she won't part with any of them. Each one is significant to her. ''Could you have just three chickens?'' No, she has to have forty chickens in the house. Another couple has been threatened by Child Protective Services to lose custody of their children, because their house is so dangerous due to all the clutter and trash. Another lady buys a second house because she can't keep all of her clutter in the first house. The stories of people who are hoarding go on and on. The show tries to help people who are obsessed with possessions to let go of their material belongings and return to a normal life.
The problem of hoarding is not a new phenomenon. Two thousand years ago, Pastor James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, wrote to the church in Jerusalem about the same issue, about how we could overcome hoarding. In fact, in James 5:1-2 James says, ''Look here, you rich people, weep and groan in anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags.'' Wow, what a challenging Word. What an inspiring Word. What a confrontational Word James says to each one of us about managing our own belongings.
Often we hoard money or certain possessions because we're in a quest for financial freedom. In many people's vocabulary, the term financial freedom means I'm out of debt and I have a comfortable lifestyle. But the Bible defines it in a broader context: trusting God to provide for me, not being afraid of finances and money, not worrying about our financial future, and being generous to God and to others.
When we first read this Scripture, James addresses rich people. I k ...
Series: Real Faith
Ryan Heller
James 5:1-6
Have you seen the Emmy-nominated AandE television show called Hoarders? They detail the lives of people who have a problem and an addiction, and people are trying to help them resolve their issues. One lady lives in a house with forty chickens, and she won't part with any of them. Each one is significant to her. ''Could you have just three chickens?'' No, she has to have forty chickens in the house. Another couple has been threatened by Child Protective Services to lose custody of their children, because their house is so dangerous due to all the clutter and trash. Another lady buys a second house because she can't keep all of her clutter in the first house. The stories of people who are hoarding go on and on. The show tries to help people who are obsessed with possessions to let go of their material belongings and return to a normal life.
The problem of hoarding is not a new phenomenon. Two thousand years ago, Pastor James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, wrote to the church in Jerusalem about the same issue, about how we could overcome hoarding. In fact, in James 5:1-2 James says, ''Look here, you rich people, weep and groan in anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags.'' Wow, what a challenging Word. What an inspiring Word. What a confrontational Word James says to each one of us about managing our own belongings.
Often we hoard money or certain possessions because we're in a quest for financial freedom. In many people's vocabulary, the term financial freedom means I'm out of debt and I have a comfortable lifestyle. But the Bible defines it in a broader context: trusting God to provide for me, not being afraid of finances and money, not worrying about our financial future, and being generous to God and to others.
When we first read this Scripture, James addresses rich people. I k ...
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