A Tangible Faith #12: Looking Both Ways James 4:13-17 07/01/2018

James’ readers were double-minded (unstable) and adulterous: They had sought the world’s pleasures instead of God (4:1-10). By judging one another, they had attempted to evade the ultimate Judge…God Himself (4:11-12). They had planned their business future and had omitted God from their plans.

Mistake One: Planning the Future without God 13 Now listen, you who say,” Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. (James 4:13)

The plan is constructed – “Today or tomorrow” The place is chosen – “we will go to this or that city” The period is calculated – “spend a year there” The purpose is considered – “carry on business” The profit is computed – “and make money”

Mistake Two: Presuming to Know the Future 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. (James 4:14)

14 What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14)

15 Our days on earth are like a shadow. (1 Chron 29:15) 6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. (Job 7:6) 7 Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; (Job 7:7)

9 As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave does not return. (Job 7:9)  1 Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure. (Job 14:1-2)

4 Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. 5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath. (Ps 39:4-5)

19 ‘And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry” (Luke 12:19). 1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)

Mistake Three: Postponing What Should Be Done Today 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (James 4:17) 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:16)

15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:15)

Purpose – Does your mission ultimately serve God and the people He created? Philosophy – Do your business practices and principles treat people with dignity? Plan – Do your daily activities and attitudes show clear evidence of the Christian life?

To be a successful Christian businessperson you need to remember three things: First, there must be a willingness to do God’s will when we find it. 

Second, we must realize that God’s will is always in harmony with His Word.  Third, we must come to Him earnestly in prayer seeking guidance.

A Tangible Faith #12: Looking Both Ways James 4:13-17 07/01/2018