James 4:13-17. A Reminder of What’s Real

A Reminder of What’s Real Book of James Chapter 4:13-17 HCC October 8th, 2023 James 4:13-17 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Fundamentally Human Questions What is my purpose in life? What determines my life: My Free Will or “Fate”? What happens when I die? Problem of Time • Life is short • Where did the time go? • Mid-life crisis Today’s Message • Recap on the Book of James • Analysis of the Text • Jesus as Our Guide and Hope Recap on the Background of the Book of James • Author: James, brother of Jesus • Timing: Days of early church, around of late 40s A.D. • Target audience: Jewish audience, relatively new Christians • Key Questions: • What does the Christian life look like? • How do I understand my suffering? • How do become closer to God and know that my faith is real? Themes from James Covered So Far 1. Trials and Temptations 2. Faith and Deeds 3. Controlling the Tongue 4. Wisdom James 4:13-17 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Literary Structure of this Passage? 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Compare and Contrast 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Compare and Contrast 1 Bad 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 3 Teaching 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? Good 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this 2 4 Conclusion For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. What is the Problem of Boasting? 1. Form of Presumption “I am in full control of my life, I get to decide how life should go” 2. Form of Pride “I am so good and capable. Life and work shall bend according to my will” 3. Form of Misplaced Hope “I have all I need from this world” What is the Problem of Boasting? 1. Form of Presumption “I am in full control of my life, I get to decide how life should go” 2. Form of Pride “I am so good and capable. Life and work shall bend according to my will” 3. Form of Misplaced Hope “I have all I need from this world” The problem is there’s no room for God Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:13-21 And he told them this parable: 'The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, "What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops." Then he said, "This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I'll say to myself, 'You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.'" But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?' This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God." Back to James 4:13-17 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Good 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Vs. 15 Describes How to Think Instead 1. Presumption of Control 2. Pride 3. Misplaced Hope • Life is not on our terms • In fact it is very fragile and full of the unexpected • Job 14:5: “…his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you…” • Proverbs 16:9: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps." Vs. 15 Describes How to Think Instead 1. Presumption of Control 2. Pride 3. Misplaced Hope • Essence of sin is a proud independence • James 4:6: “God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble” • Beatitudes in Matthew 6 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:16-17 Discussion Questions 1. James 4:14 reminds us that life is fleeting and uncertain, and we do not have control over the length of our lives. How does this challenge our culture's emphasis on success and achievement? 2. How can this truth shape our priorities and attitudes toward material possessions, career pursuits, and personal ambitions? 3. James 4:16 warns us not to boast. Where in our lives have we been boasting, or placing too much confidence and hope in the things we have in this world? How can we instead make room for God? APPENDIX James is within the New Testament Books of the Bible The Gospel says we are more sinful than we dared imagine, yet we are more loved than we dared to believe How to Know God is Real "You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.“ Jeremiah 29:13 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6 Vs. 15 Describes How to Think Instead 1. Presumption of Control 2. Pride For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life— comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and 3. Misplaced Hope its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:16-17