As Christians, our attitude towards our possessions should be like that of a steward. All that we have has been given by God and can be taken away at any time. When we say we own things, we are saying that we have a say in what happens to them and how our money will be used. We do not mean that we can guarantee that we will have them. The attack—the ongoing attack that we are under reminds us of uncertainty. The economic repercussions force us to remember that God is ultimately in control and we are not.

If we are stewards and God is the real owner, then we need to look at all we have as if we were responsible to God for how we used it. When we present to God our tithes and offerings, we are not giving him some of our stuff. We are giving God some of his stuff. The reason we bring a tithe—ten percent of what the Lord has given us, is because he told us to. He told us he would bless us with all that we need if we do. We give to God a portion of what he has given us to represent the whole. The money we do not give in offerings still belongs to God and we are to use it in a way that would please him because we are stewards.

James is writing to those who have lost this perspective. They act as though they control the present and predict the future. In other words, they act the way we do most of the time. Most of the time we make our plans without a thought that something else may come up. Something else big may come up. We say, today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. The problem is not that we make plans but when we forget that God is ultimately in control of our circumstances. The problem comes up when we forget to lay our plans before the Lord and say, "God willing, this will be the plan."

The Bible reminds us that we do not have ultimate control over our lives let alone our money. But we often talk and act as if we do. And when the money gets tighter, our hold on it gets tighter. Because we so often trust in our money, we cut back our giving to the Lord when things get uncertain. We act as though it is our money rather than us being stewards with what God has given us.

But when we do that, we are trusting in ourselves and not in the Lord. Over and over God tells his people that they need to trust and obey. When they did not, things did not go so well. They would plant much and harvest little and he would tell them that it is because they did not obey his law and bring his tithes to his house. And he told them to test him and see if they would not have more blessing than they could imagine if they would be faithful and give to him what he had told them. It is the same promise for us.

The first part of chapter 5 is difficult for us to read. It is a warning against those who are trusting in their wealth. It is easy for us to trust in our wealth to give comfort and meaning to our lives. But wealth is not eternal. It wealth rots (v 2) and corrodes (v 3). How often we think if we had a certain amount of money we would be happy and at peace (only to achieve it and not have peace)? Peace, real peace comes from knowing the love of God is for you. Real peace is found by resting in Christ our Savior.

Verse 5 talks about those who live their lives in self-indulgence and luxury. I don’t know about you, but these words make it difficult for me to squirm away. It makes me ask how much do I set aside for my comfort and pleasure as compared to how much I set aside for others and the work of the Lord? These are real questions that we have to deal with. As a steward of God’s resources entrusted to me, am I honoring God with what I do with my money? How is it seen by others? How is it seen by God?

Stewardship comes back to the heart. We cannot earn our way into God’s favor by giving money to the Lord. It is all his to begin with. What God has for us is something more permanent than our money. It is eternal life through Jesus Christ. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, no amount of money given to the Lord will impress him.

Do you really know Jesus as your Savior? Do you know what it is like to be forgiven all your sins so that no charge can stand against you? Do you know the peace of God which gives peace beyond everything? If so, you will give your heart, time talent and money to the Lord with joy. When we are stingy or fearful with our money, it is an indication that we have been stingy and fearful with our heart. When we know the joy of a right relationship with God, all that we give to God will be in response to what he has given us. That is the heart of this passage. Don’t lean on your ability to control things or money to give your life meaning and make your life smooth. Lean on the Lord Jesus.