What Is Your Life? James 4:13-17
Attitude Toward Time “Save time” Presume time Waste time
Disregard for God (James 4) Choose the world (vv. 1-10) Contempt for God’s law (vv. 11, 12) Presume the future (vv )
Presumptuous (vv. 13, 14) Making plans not wrong –Good to plan –“Say”- Greek legontes, involves reasoning and thought –God planned (Ephesians 3:10, 11)
Presumptuous (vv. 13, 14) Problem: Leaving God out –Time: Today or tomorrow –Place: Certain city –Length of stay: One year –Business: trading –Results: Gain
Presumptuous (vv. 13, 14) Do we not do the same? –Boasting of tomorrow (Proverbs 27:1) –Remember the fool (Luke 12:16-21) –Accidents and come only to others?
Presumptuous (vv. 13, 14) No knowledge of tomorrow –Irony of planning for a year –Do we control the future?
Presumptuous e (vv. 13, 14) What is your life? –The character of it –Permanent? (Job 7:6-10) –TV program: This is Your Life –Remember (Matthew 6:30-34)
Placement of God (vv. 15, 16) “Ought to say” –If the Lord will (v. 15) –Not just a formula –Attitude of heart
Placement of God (vv. 15, 16) Always considers God –His will (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44) –Paul’s example (Acts 18:21; 1 Corinthians 4:19; 16:7)
Placement of God (vv. 15, 16) Accept His leading –Overreaction, mysterious leading –Lean on His word (Proverbs 3:5, 6) –Know His mind (1 Corinthians 2:9-14)
Placement of God (vv. 15, 16) No glory in our designs –Leave the impression we don’t need God –Rejoicings (KJV)- calculated effort to exclude God –Proper glorying (Psalm 8; Galatians 6:14)
Sin of Omission (v. 17) Do not do what we know is right –Pharisees (John 9:41) –Persecutors (John 15:22) –Not just hearers (John 13:17; James 1:22) –Fig tree (Matthew 21;19)
Sin of Omission (v. 17) Lost for failure to do what is right –One talent man (Matthew 25:24-30) –Some at judgment (Matthew 25:42) –Sin is not just doing evil deeds
Conclusion Presuming time to obey? Presuming time to be reconciled? Dangerous and sinful