How to Give God Control of Our Life (James 4:13-17)

A Brief Review Today represents our fourteenth installment in this series of lessons taken from the book of James. Our theme for this series of lessons is “How To” Christianity. We are seeking to focus on the task of practically addressing everyday matters of living effective lives for God.

How To… Survive Trying Times Obtain Wisdom Survive Temptation Address Our Anger Secure Salvation Become Doers of the Word Embrace Pure Religion Stop Showing Partiality Develop Real Faith Talk Like a Christian Should Develop a Heart of Understanding Overcome the Influ- ences of the World Stop Being Judgmental

How To Give God Control of Our Life Three Mistakes We Make in Life Four Principles We Need to Embrace in Order to Give God Control of Our Life Five Questions We Need to Ask Ourselves

Three Mistakes We Make in Life The first mistake we make in life is that we develop an attitude of arrogance thinking that we ought to be in control of our own life. (4:16) –God hates pride and arrogance. (Proverbs 16:5) –Our boastful pride is not good. (Proverbs 27:1) –Our boastful pride is sinful. (I John 2:15-17) –Our boasting, if not addressed, will bring about our spiritual ruin. (Proverbs 15:25; 26:12)

Three Mistakes We Make in Life The second mistake we make in life is that we are presumptuous in thinking that we have all the time in the world. (2:14) We need to understand that at best life is unpredictable, immeasurable, and uncertain! (Luke 12:15-21)

Three Mistakes We Make in Life The Bible clearly defines the brevity of life using many different pictures. The Bible tells us life is: –Like a weaver’s beam (Job 7:6,7) –A shadow (Job 8:9) –A fading flower (Job 14:1,2; Psalm 103:14-16) –A vapor (Psalm 39:4,5)

Three Mistakes We Make in Life The third mistake we make in life is that we have a tendency to plan our life without consideration of God and His will for our life. (2:15) In the illustration presented in our text, a decent business (life plan) was set forth (at least according to the world’s standard).

Three Mistakes We Make in Life Business (Life) Plan: –When:(Today or tomorrow) –Where:(This city or that city) –How:(Spend a year) –What:(Buy and sell) –Why:(To make a profit) Unfortunately, it is NOT the right plan because it leaves out the most important ingredient: “Who” (and that is God)!

Four Principles We Need to Embrace 1.We need to resist the pull of the world and focus on God. (Colossians 3:1-3) 2.We need to stop leaning on our own understanding of how life works and what we think is best. (Proverbs 3:5-7) 3.We need to remind ourselves often that we cannot serve two masters. (Matthew 6:24) 4.We need to seek God’s will for our lives. (James 4:15)

Five Questions We Need to Ask Ourselves 1.Who is in control of my life? 2.Is achieving God’s will for my life really important to me? 3.Am I ready to give God complete control of my life? 4.What obstacles stand in my way of giving God complete control of my life? 5.What will happen if I refuse to seek after God’s will? (James 4:17)