James on Living

March 6
James on Living
James 4: 13-17

Intro
Well it’s good to be back. I hope you enjoyed Britni and Michael and getting out early. I have some extra minutes today. We wouldn’t want you to feel short changed.

So, after a two Sunday break this will be our last sermon in James series.
Since it has been a couple of weeks let’s have a refresher on all that James has had to say:
Trials-joy
Temptation-always there
Works-faith without works is dead
Tongue-difficult to control
Relationships-dealing with conflict
Prayer-struggled with unanswered prayer

Our scripture this morning continues the great lessons James offers. Let’s take a look.

James 4
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.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

There’s 2 parts to James’ message in this section:
1) Has to do with our plans.
Did you catch it? Essentially James touches on one of the most amazing doctrines of Scripture. That God, with the infinite universe in His hands, has a definite plan for each of His people.

The problem is that we don’t live in the moment. We live days, weeks, sometimes years ahead…often missing the opportunities God has for us. When people are dying we anticipate it instead of enjoying what time we have left and making the most of it. To a certain extent God calls us to live in the moment. What do I mean by that?
The error is not the quest for material gain, although that may be implied, but rather the presumption that life can be planned apart from God. The evil is not the plan, but the fact that it is a godless plan.

Life is short no matter how many years we live. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, to enjoy your loved ones, or to do what you know you should. Live for God today. Then, no matter when your life ends you will have fulfilled God’s plan for you.

If we don’t live, what good will the plans do?-as in Jesus’ story about the rich man who built new barns (Luke 12) “Don’t boast about tomorrow, because you don’t know what today may bring forth!”-Proverbs 27: 1

Illustration
The Bucket List-movie (maybe???)

I’m not saying don’t make plans. But don’t make plans without God-My own story-Air Force, DEA…ministry
Vision Planning-if it is not undergirded with prayer and keeping God at the center of our planning everything we do is useless…What future is God pulling us into?

I think sometimes our failure to include God has a deeper root than mere omission of considering God’s plan for us. Most of us who drive realize fuel is an absolute necessity in order for our vehicle to run. We know that when the gas gauge reads "Empty" or when we see that annoying light come on, it's time to pull on in to the gas station and fill it up. But honestly, how many of you have tried to see how far we could get on "Empty"?

The same is true in our spiritual lives. Many times we try to see how far we can get, unintentionally, without spending quality one on one time with God. Our egos get in the way of the ever- present Holy Spirit that is beckoning our attention. Meanwhile, we remain on cruise control for the week. We try to fill our tank with everything but what is necessary to function: fellowship with friends, insightful books, worshipful music and "drive-by" encounters with God are all things. While these are all positive activities, they are not sufficient enough for sustained spiritual growth.

In the book of James, we find where our dependence, our source of strength, should come from. We need to be completely, solely dependent upon Him. He is our strength, our fuel. Subjugating ourselves to Him, our motives and our desires to His, leaves us full and confident to continue our journey.

2) The second lesson James is teaching here deals with not doing what God asks of us.

We tend to think that doing wrong is sin. But James tells us that sin is also not doing what is right. If God is leading you to something or someone-follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it is committing a sin of omission far more serious than the sin of those who are uninformed-as is clear from scriptures like Lk 12: 47-48,
47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

2 Peter 2: 21.
21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.

In this specific situation in James the sin is to announce plans as if we could control all the circumstances, failing to acknowledge that God is in charge and our plans depend on God’s will.
Essentially the message here is “You have now been informed; ignorance is no excuse. To act otherwise is sin without excuse.”

James gives us lots of good advice and recommendations on living a life pleasing to God. He begs us to give our days to God, and spend time talking and listening to God, so we know what He wants us to do – how to spend the time He gives us. Do you feel like you waste time? A song Max has learned this year is a great way to start the day, consider it as you start your days this week. “Good morning God, this is your day, I am your child. Show me your way.”