1. TAKING LIFE FOR GRANTED James 4:13-16

2. Taking Life For Granted  We are continuing our series on the book of James  Tonight we pick up towards the end of James 4  No matter how many times we hear of someone’s death, it never seems to cease to shock us

3. Taking Life For Granted  We know that death is certain, and yet we still seem to think it will not happen to us  It’s as if we think we can predict that time when our life will come to a close  Perhaps it’s also because we often take life for granted

4. Taking Life For Granted  So James addresses this here in chapter 4  We often quote verse 14 and speak of life as a vapor  Does it have true meaning to us?  There are some unmistakable lessons that James wants us to learn here as it pertains to life

5. Taking Life For Granted  1. Presumption with God is not good  We often play the game of presuming some things to be true in life  Sometimes it works out, other times it does not  However, most of the time if we are wrong, it’s not that big of a deal

6. Taking Life For Granted  1. Presumption with God is not good  That’s not always the case with God  That’s why it’s important to seek His counsel  Psalm 19:13 – “Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins”  Their plans in James 4 were presumptuous plans

7. Taking Life For Granted  2. Never take God’s blessings for granted  Part of the idea of presumption is assuming something that may not be true  Too often we count on things that we may currently have as though they will always be around  We often times do that with God’s blessings, especially life

8. Taking Life For Granted  2. Never take God’s blessings for granted  Many have learned just how precious life is  Jacob was thankful when he saw his son Joseph again, as well as Joseph’s offspring (Gen. 48:11)  James wants us to appreciate how precious life is

9. Taking Life For Granted  3. Our plans should include God  James is not saying that we should not make future plans (v. 13)  What James is saying is that we need to recognize the sustaining power of God (v. 15)  Are our plans according to God’s will?

10. Taking Life For Granted  3. Our plans should include God  Rich Fool – Luke 12:13-21  Jeremiah 10:23 – We need the Lord to help direct our steps!  Psalm 37:23 – “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord”  Hebrews 6:3 – “…if God permits”

11. Taking Life For Granted  4. Life has no guarantee  God never promises us another day  James here says that life is like a vapor  We do not know when that vapor will disappear  That is why Christ urged us not to worry about tomorrow (Matt. 6:34)

12. Taking Life For Granted  4. Life has no guarantee  Proverbs 27:1 – “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth”  Peter said that since we know one day things will come to an end, “what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (II Pet. 3:10-12)