Principals For Life

Text: James 4:14 “14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Introduction:

Quote: “Methods are many, principals are few, methods often change, principals never do” (Unknown)

1) Relationships are more important than things or fame

Matthew 6:19–21 “19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

A. What are the distinctions Jesus is making here?

a. There is loss on earth and gain in heaven.

b. There are two different ways to gain treasure.

c. There are two different types of treasure.

d. There is a different result depending on where your heart is focused.

B. Who is the focus placed upon for each type of treasure?

a. Treasures on earth mainly come when focused on yourself.

b. Treasures in heaven are gained when focused on others over one’s self.

Relationship with Jesus.

Personal walk with Jesus.

Relationship with your spouse.

Relationship with your children.

Relationship with the lost.

Relationship with friends.

2) Nothing anyone can do to me will harm me; only my reactions can harm me.

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

A good example: Joseph betrayed by his brothers.

This is not to say they probably didn’t hurt his feelings, but Joseph grew to understand God was sovereign over all things that may come his way.

A bad example: Ahithophel eventually hung himself due to his continual betrayal to David.

3) It is more blessed to give than to receive

Acts 20:35 “35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Not suggesting people who “receive” are less blessed than people who give.

It could be rendered, “It is better to share one’s wealth with others than to keep what you have and collect more.”

Moral lesson — The blessing will not come when you focus on accumulating and never sharing.

Jesus’ example: 2 Corinthians 8:9 “9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Luke 12:16–31 KJV 1900

16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. 22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Ways to give:

Liberally, sacrificially, joyfully, willingly, humble, etc.

Quote: Don’t participate in the recession

4) Each person is a creation of God and is unique

Jeremiah 1:5 “5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Quote: “There are no unimportant people.”

Quote: “We should treat every person we meet as if they were the most important person on earth.”

Genesis 1:26 “26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

5) Happiness is a by-product of faithfulness to God, not a goal.

Philippians 4:4–19 KJV 1900

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. 15 Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16 For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18 But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Quote: “Happiness is not a goal, it is a way of life.”

Things we think if we change, happiness is guaranteed:

Where you are

What you have

Whom you are with

6) If I do the little things well, Bid things will take care of themselves

Ecclesiastes 9:10 “10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.”

This is not saying you won’t have to put any effort toward the big things when they are presented, but if you are applying excellence toward the small things, it will flow right into the big things.

Ideas of excellence: Promptly, pleasantly, persistent, passionately, prayerfully, patiently.

7) Change is always possible

Example: The life of Ester

Haman was made Prime minister and considered himself to be worth far more than Mordecai.

Mordecai was sentenced to death by Haman.

An old expression: I would like to buy him for what he is worth and sell him for what he thinks he is worth.

Mordecai’s, Ester’s and their people’s future changed for the good when it seemed as if there was not way possible.

Good advice — Never get too low & never get too high.

8) We must not take ourselves too seriously

Romans 12:3 “3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

James 4:14 “14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Be careful not to have a false evaluation of yourself. This causes great damage.

You will bring damage when you overrate yourself and try to perform a ministry you cannot do.

Having the wrong attitude toward the gift God has given you.

Good Example: Exodus 4:1-12 (Moses made this mistake)

God blesses in a wonderful was when an individual believer in a church knows their gifts, accepts them by faith, and uses them for God glory.

9) Everyone and everything are my teachers

1 Corinthians 12:12 “12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.”

Jesus used children to teach his disciples.

When James and John wanted to call fire down from heaven on the Samaritans, Jesus had to redirect their perspective.

Romans 1:20 “20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

While you may be in the position of stage of life to teach others, you always remain a pupil.

What should be removed?

Boasting, jealousy, grumbling, unthankfulness...

10) Be all that you can be all the time

Esther 4:13–14 “13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

God is always placing us in places of importance.

What about the person who was instrumental in you coming to faith in Jesus?

Conclusion

These principles will help you redeem the time because the day are evil and Jesus is coming quickly.