James (W. 9) - James 4:13-17

You’re missing the point!

Bottomline: We must live more concerned about God’s will than our days.

Principles of James’ letter:

You are subject to God’s will.

You are subject to your humanity.

James 4:13–17 ESV

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.

1. You Are Not In Control.

This point.

That sentence.

This truth is uncomfortable.

It just is.

It’s sort of like hearing the word, “moist.” or “Ointment.”

The words are necessary but not comfortable.

The same is true here with what James is teaching us.

You are not in control!

James 4:13 ESV

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”—

James 4:15–16 ESV

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.

Quickly, allow me to make a couple of qualifying

1. James is not condemning planning.

The bible speaks highly about planning in life.

Jesus taught about counting the cost, and the Proverbs are full of wisdom on making plans in the future.

2. James is not condoning procrastination.

To hear James speak about the brevity of life is not the time to think,

3. James is also not commanding we use a phrase.

“If the Lord wills.”

3. James is commissioning a posture.

It’s a posture of humility.

A posture where we understand we are not the center of the universe. We are not the all-knowing, all-good, all-powerful creator of this universe. We are not the self sufficient ones.

look at the statement at the beginning of verse 14.

You don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

You aren’t all knowing.

We think we are in control. Take screen time for example.

But we aren’t under control.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

A posture of a believer’s heart that accepts and rejoices in the truth that God is the One in control.

Not accepting this as true is to boast in empty boasting.

It’s like saying, “I am proud to say that I didn’t win the lottery!”

It’s being prideful for absolutely no reason.

James 4:14 ESV

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.

In fact, our lives are:

Fragile

Forgettable

Fleeting

James 4:13,15-16

This is a truth that is difficult to accept, but once it’s accepted, it’s the most freeing thing.

James is not condemning habits of planning in your life, he’s commissioning a posture.

James’ commission is brevity of this life and calling us to a obedience in this life.

Ten seconds after you step into eternity, the Only thing that will matter is whether you were obedient or not.

2. Your Days are Numbered.

‌ 17,768 days until I turn 80.

49 Christmases.

676 Saturdays until my oldest is 18.

16,310.

James 4:14 ESV

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.

a. Numbering our days is revealing.

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

There are only two things that last forever:

The Word of God.

The souls of people.

Ten seconds into eternity, what would really matter?

b. Numbering our days brings wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 ESV

12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Tim McGraw

What do I do? How can i make the most of the mist that is my life?

3. Your Life is Christ

If my life is a mist.

How do I make an impact.

James 4:14 ESV

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.

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

1 John 5:11–12 ESV

11 And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Therefore…

4. You are called to be obedient.

James 4:17 ESV

17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

What is the right thing?

James 4:15 ESV

15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

a. Obey God to avoid sin

b. Obey because God has given you the gift of another day and more time.

Only One Life, Twill Soon Be Past by C.T. Studd

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep; Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn; Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

__ extra stanza __

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last. And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be, If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.

Communion:

Matthew 26:26–28 ESV

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.