The Sin of Arrogance.

James 4:13–17 NKJV

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

I. False Presuppositions.

A college senior took his new girlfriend to a football game. The young couple found their seats in the crowded stadium and was watching the action.

A substitute running back was put into the game, and as he was running onto the field to take his position, the boy said to his girlfriend, “Take a good look at this guy. I expect him to be our best man next year.”

His girlfriend snuggled closer and said to the surprised young man, “That’s the strangest way I ever heard of for a guy to propose to a girl. But never mind—I accept!”

A. An assumption of tomorrow.

Proverbs 27:1 NKJV

Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.

B. An assumption of blessings.

NBob was staying at an expensive hotel in New York City, and woke up in the middle of the night with an upset stomach.

He called room service and ordered some soda crackers. Later when he looked at the charge slip, he was furious. Bob called room service and raged, “I know I’m in a luxury hotel, but $11.50 for six crackers is ridiculous!”

“The crackers are complimentary,” the voice at the other end coolly explained. “I believe you are complaining about your room number.”

II. Forgetfulness of God.

Israels forgetfulness of God’s deliverance.

A. Forgetting God’s sovereignty over life.

B. Forgetting God’s sovereignty over death.

III. Boasting

On January 22nd, 2010 professional boxer Ashley Sexton fought Usman Ahmed at the Brentwood Centre in Brentwood, Essex, England. Sexton was an undefeated in eight fights coming into the bout, including four technical knockouts to this record. Ahmed was a multiple time flyweight title challenger but never a champion.

Ushman Ahmed was the first man to walk to the ring, dancing with a very cocky demeanor to the fight. He didn't at all look like a man scheduled to fight another man in a boxing match. Probably part of the reason his entrance last longer than his fight. Sexton just walked into the ring and immediately got into Ahmed's face.

The fight starts out competitive for the first two minutes with both fighters throwing good combinations, but with a minute left in the first round Sexton lands a massive over hand right than absolutely floors his opponent. Ahmed is knocked clean unconscious and gets a tough lesson in being too cocky coming into a combat sport bout.

A. Boasting in things with no eternal value.

B. Boasting in things that displease God.