James 4:13-17 - Living in Light of Eternity

Passage

James 4:13–17

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows to do the right thing and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Introduction

Hook

Illustration:

The story of me saying goodnight to my dad each night. / Him being here at the Pastor’s conference.

Frame

The Test of Dependence on God: James 4:13-17

The way of the boastful - or proud/prideful James 4:11 - 5:6

Title: Living in light of eternity!

The mood suddenly switches again with the transitional phrase “Come now, you who say …,” a phrase that is repeated in 5:1: “Come now, you rich people …” - Not the same mood as the previous section, as this command goes out, a call for an inward change. Here it’s more of a call for attention and a reasoning.

This phrase is only found here and in 5:1.

It’s a more Old Testament prophetic style (cf. Isa. 1:18 “come now, and let us reason together” says the Lord); his words come now are an insistent, even direct call for attention.

They also indicate disapproval for the conduct they address. James is in effect saying “Listen up!” or “Get this! or “Pay attention!”

Here in 4:13 in introduces the first of 2 groups james will be addressing.

4:13-17 Group one are those ‘desiring to be rich”

5:1 - 6 The group who already are rich (possibly referring to the same group earlier mentioned in chapter 2 - the fakers in the church who professed allegiance to Christ but actually only pursued riches. Here though it stands as a warning to believers to not fall into the same sins these lovers of money has fallen into)

In this section though, James is specifically addressing those who “have not yet made it” but has the desire to be rich (or be as the merchants to make profit) - and in turn their eternal focus moves to the temporal earthly. - For us it’s anyone who thinks of earthly gain and plans for earthly gain with no regard to the will of God.

James is talking here about the merchants of those days. though there were nothing wrong with their plans, and there is nothing wrong with doing business to provide. The attitude is being addressed

Such people do not properly acknowledge the sovereignty of God over their lives,

so James’s description of these business-oriented people brings to mind Jesus’ parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12:15–20 and its admonition to “take care” and be on one’s guard “against all kinds of greed.”

The rich man of the parable plans to build new barns to hold his plentiful harvest and expects to eat, drink, and be merry “for many years” as he enjoyed the fruits of that harvest.

The man, however, shows no acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty or the fact that God is the one who provides the harvest. In the parable, after the man states his plans, God declares that the man’s life “is being demanded” of him (Luke 12:20).

James, on the other hand, simply notes that all human lives are but a vanishing “mist” (cf. James 1:10–11).

Thus human beings should show more humility about their future plans—the admonition “If the Lord wishes/wills” (Deo volente [DV] ) is to be lived out in both word and deed.

But the lesson here goes much further.

This phrase about the will of God also echoes Matthew’s words of Jesus from the Lord’s model Prayer (Matt 6:10 “Your kingdom come - YOUR WILL BE DONE - On earth as it is in heaven.”

Scripture give many marks of true Christians, such as love for God , repentance from sin, humility, devotion to God’s Glory, prayer, love for others, separation from the world, growth in sactification, and obedience. But nothing summarizes the character of a genuine believer more clearly than a deep desire to DO THE WILL OF GOD!

We are all suppose to have the same heart as David Psalm 40:8 “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart”.

In answering the disciples who His ‘family’ is in Mark 3:35 Jesus teaches us even more clearly - “whoever DOES THE WILL of God, he is My brother and sister and mother”

In Matthew 7:21 Jesus warns: “Not everyone who says to Me, “lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he whe DOES THE WILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven will enter!

1 Peter 4:2 Peter tells believers that for the time they have left to “Live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, BUT FOR THE WILL OF GOD”

Jesus as the ultimate example tells us in John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will (the incarnate Jesus Himself - the son of GOD) but to do the will of him who sent me. - the Father!"

To His shortsighted disciples, focused as they were on earthly things, Jesus explained, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).

In agony in Gethsemane, facing the awful reality of the cross, the Lord nonetheless prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39; cf. v. 42; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42). The Lord Jesus Christ perfectly modeled the most essential element of a relationship to God—obedience to His will.

For James, doing the will of God identifies another test of genuine saving faith. True Christians are characterized by “doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6). They joyfully, willingly pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done” (Matt. 6:10).

Short statement: One of the hallmarks of true mature Christians is their absolute submission to the Lordship of Christ. Their actions proof that they both desire and do according to God’s will not their own. They understand that the flesh only seeks pleasures, driven by lust. Therefore, to do as God wills, not their flesh.

The Outline / story

The Characteristics of practical atheism (v13-14)

The Arrogance of Self-Sufficiency (v16)

The Contradiction to Practical Theology (v17)

The Call to Humble Submission (v15)

{Expository Points}

1. The Characteristics of Practical Atheism (v13-14) (The Context)

Passage

James 4:13–14 “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”

Hook:

The specific illustration James chose was one that would have been familiar to his readers. Many Jewish people dispersed throughout the ancient world were successful businessmen, real merchants who naturally sought out the flourishing trade centers in which to do business.

They were familiar with: Wise planning and strategizing in business (As they are still today). This is not, of course, sinful in and of itself but commendable. No spiritual principles are violated by anything the businessmen said. The problem lies in what they did not do. They did extensive planning, but in the course of their planning, they totally ignored God; God was not part of their agenda.

Joel James, in his work "Biblical Decision-Making: Is it God's will to 'find' His will?", talks about making plans ‘practical atheism’.

He describes a practical atheist as someone who, despite professing belief in God, makes decisions as if God does not exist.

Here James emphasizes that while these individuals may not openly deny God's existence, their approach to decision-making effectively disregards Him, treating God as irrelevant to their daily lives.

James is not rebuking these merchants for their plans or even their desire to make a profit. That is all good and valid points. He is rebuking them for their ‘this-worldly, self-confidence and boasting pride, that is present as the PURSUE those goals!

Frame/Context:

“Today or Tomorrow” - Choose their own time - (The context)

The proud thinks they own their time!

With no regard to the one who is the creator and in control of time.

The attitude of I’ll just do it tomorrow.

Wake up thinking I’ll do the following today.

We wake up in the morning ‘plan’ the day, or you plan the week. And there is no regard for God’s will! You don’t ask yourself what is God’s timeline?

You don’t think that you could die at any moment.

You take life and your existance for granted. (The problem)

Psalm 14:1 & 53:1 "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' (The practical atheist plans and lives in this manner)

They are corrupt, and their ways are vile (abominable - DISGUSTING); there is no one who does good."

The one who does without a desire to do God’s will - is corrupt and disgusting to God!

Proverbs 27:1 "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring."

The attitude is opposite to: (The Discovery)

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

No faith or regard for the God. Instead these merchants like we so often do - Thought about the earthly.

Ephesians 5:15–16 in the King James Version says, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” The phrase redeeming the time  is also found in Colossians 4:5: “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time” (KJV). In both passages, redeeming the time is related to wisdom in how we “walk,” that is, in how we live.

To redeem something means to buy it back, to regain possession of it. Time is a gift from God, and none of us know how much of it we are allotted. Only God knows how much time each of us has on this earth to make decisions that will impact eternity (Psalm 139:16).

When God says we should be “redeeming the time,” He wants us to live in constant awareness of that ticking clock and make the most of the time we have. 

The Lesson James says in verse 14 is this: “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow!”

The attitude of this person is one of who thinks he has control over his own life, destinies and time! This practical atheist might believe in God but when it comes to their daily lives - they live asif they are God themselves.

Come on! do you not know that no one know what life will be like tomorrow?

So what is your life? (It’s a vapor that appears for a little while!) - The fragility of human life should be enough for your life to be dictated by God’s will. Not your own. - But more often than not we live like practical atheists not even bringing God into our timing.

The entire book of Ecclesiastes has this one point! All is vanity - a vapour in the wind - No profit, or gain is worth more than this: To Glorify God!

We just had the pastors conference. My dad was still here last year, and I can recall his words to the preachers: “If the Lord wills and I am still alive next year we can do this and this.” His attitude at that moment was living day by day. Redeeming the Time God has given him, he didn’t know if he has tomorrow!

“We will go to such and such a city” - Choose their own location

The Context

As with any good planning we need to think of location.

These merchants had well researched plans - in their eyes they were WISE! They knew that this LOCATIONS they will go to has the possibility of Profit!

But again - they didn’t consult the Lord on their location.

Similarly today - I will go to this city because there is more opportunities - I can make more money there than where I currently am.

Jobs becomes more hard to find, and so you research location - plan out the best location - and think you are ‘wise’ because you have the best location chosen.

Or I will go to this and this place to retire and live out the rest of my life in ‘MY OWN PLEASURES’ because you know: I’ve worked hard my whole LIFE!

Where is God in that reasoning?

As a KID we are taught the story of Jonah and the whale.

In Jonah 1:3 we specifically read that ‘Jonah Ran Away!”

He was told by God where to go. But… that was not pleasant. So? He flead, got caught in a deadly storm, forced to humble himself and admit his wrong, and thrown overboard - notice at that moment he thought it was to his death, he didn’t know about the fish”

In a sense, Jonah was more ready to DIE than go where God wanted him to go!

The Problem

Proverbs 14:12 - “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

The merchant - as we often do too - Thought that their way appeared to be RIGHT. It seemed wise - But like the builder in Luke - It ends in DEATH!

The Discovery

The practical atheist thinks his temporal needs are more important than that of God. He doesn’t ask God where to be used, where to go - or consider what is God’s purpose for their LOCATION! But arrogantly choose their own.

Yet in Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Seen in it’s most practical way through Paul in Acts 16. Sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, the apostle in his 2nd missionary journey were led to a LOCATION by God. It was his closeness with God (As we’ve already seen earlier) that allowed him to be so sensitive.

The Lesson

Good point to pause a note - that this sensitivity only comes if you draw near - If indeed you are already in close relationship with God.

Many times people want to know the will of God, and ask God for ‘advice’ and direction. But they are not willing to put in the ‘WORK’ to first Draw near to God!

Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, But Yahweh directs his steps.

Why is it that we know this, but when it’s time to make a plan, we become practical atheists not bringing God into the equation of location?

The Point James makes later in v 15 is that we are to follow the WILL of God not our own.

“Spend a year there” - Choose their own duration

As if thinking about today and tomorrow isn’t enough, this arrogant merchant thinks he has his future in his hands in duration.

The idea is, our plans are set! There is no room to change, no idea of listening to God and changing if God’s direction is there.

I would like to use ourselves as an example.

My dad came to Newcastle with the plan to be here for 1 year!

But that was not the Lord’s plan! It was for the rest of his life!

God is the one in control of durations, we call it seasons, based on Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a season for everything, and we are to be sensitive to God’s leading through these seasons. And in each season to seek the face of God and His will. NOT OUR OWN

The discovery

Psalm 31:15 My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.

Daniel 2:21 "He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning."

The lesson:

Psalm 37:7 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes."

The hardest thing to do in terms of God’s timing versus ours, is waiting!

“Engage in Business” - Choose their own enterprise

The Context

The Problem

This reflects a similar situation to: Jeremiah 7:24 "But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward."

Similarly we see the same problem in Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

The Discovery

John 14:15 "If you love me, keep my commandments."

Jeremiah 10:23 states: "Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps."

the Lesson

1 John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

Luke 11:28 He replied, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.'

But the most clear and important one of all is: Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

“Make a profit” - Chose their own goal

We know that our final goal is to always Glorify God

Ecclesiastes 12:13 The conclusion, when everything has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

Makes how we glorify God clear!

Fear God

Keep His commandments

The lesson:

Do now have your own goals in mind. Ask: Will this glorify God?

Will this benefit the kingdom

Is the new word better for Godliness or not?

The most obvious, does this job force me to work on sundays?

The problem is that we often times consider our own wisdom and plans and goals - and disregard GOD

This is thee mark of a practical atheist.

The warning - not living for eternity

James is making the argument in FULL! You don’t know how long your time is, or where you should be. We are a vapour in the wind

2. The Arrogance of Self-Sufficiency - Self-theism (v16) (The Problem)

Passage

James 4:16 “But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”

Frame

Exposes the pride/heart that underlies such an attitude

Boasting in arrogance

Confidence in self rather than in God

Those in the first group are practical atheists—living as if God did not exist. Those in this second category are self-theists—refusing to submit the uncertainties of life to God, they set themselves, their own goals, and their own wills above God. God’s will, though acknowledged, simply is not as important to them as their plans. Though such disdain does not characterize the life of a believer generally, even Christians are often guilty of setting aside God’s will in favor of their own plans.

Those who deny God’s will, James says, boast in their arrogance. Kauchaomai (boast) can mean “to be loud-mouthed,” or “to speak loudly,” either in legitimate rejoicing (e.g., Rom. 5:2–3, 11) or in touting one’s own accomplishments (e.g., 1 Cor. 1:19). The context indicates James has the latter meaning in mind in this passage. Alazoneia (arrogance) comes from a root word meaning “to wander about” and reflects empty pretense. It was sometimes used to describe charlatans who traveled around selling phony goods. Taken together, the two words picture someone bragging pretentiously about something he doesn’t have and can’t obtain. Such is the arrogance, James says, of those who deny the will of God.

This is the nature of sinful boasting

It is not merely self-confidence, but self-exaltation.

It disregards God’s authority and sovereignty.

It leads to a mindset where self-will replaces God’s will

The problem is not planning, but planning apart from God.

The scary conclusion James make is:

All such empty, arrogant, foolish boasting, James warns, is evil. Scripture uses ponēros (evil) as a title for Satan (Matt. 13:38; John 17:15; Eph. 6:16; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 John 2:13–14; 3:12; 5:18–19), the original boastful (cf. Isa. 14:13–14) sinner. Those who arrogantly deny God’s will emulate Satan’s sin, and may suffer his doom.

3. The Contradiction to Practical Theology - blatant disobedience (v17) (The Lesson)

Passage:

James 4:17 “Therefore, to one who knows to do the right thing and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Frame

The Contradiction:

Many acknowledge God in theory but deny Him in practice

If things ends good - we contribute it to God’s goodness

If things end bad - we blame God for not being there.

Knowing God’s will but not aligning our lives with it is sin

James rebuked such people with the statement that the one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Those in this third group know God’s will, and affirm that it is right. Kalos (right) describes what is qualitatively good, morally excellent, worthy of honor, and upright.

John MacArthur Notes:

In the broadest sense, God’s will is expressed in all the commands and principles of Scripture.

Specifically, the Bible says that God’s will is that people be saved (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9), Spirit-filled (Eph. 5:17–18), sanctified (1 Thess. 4:3–8), submissive (1 Pet. 2:13–15), and suffering (1 Pet. 3:17).

To the person obeying those five aspects of God’s will, the Bible says, “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4)—that is, He will both plant the desires, then fulfill them.

Those who know God’s will are responsible to obey it, and if they fail to do so, they sin. They will find no comfort in the fact that they have not actively committed sin. Just leaving God out is itself sin. The sin of disregarding and disobeying God’s will is one of omission, of not doing what one knows is right (cf. Luke 12:47). Sins of omission are rarely isolated from sins of commission.

Faith must be demonstrated in dependence on God in daily life

The warning that the Sins of Omission is just as serious as the sins of commission!

4. The Call to Humble Submission (v15) (The Solution)

Passage:

James 4:15 “Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.””

Frame:

Say = A heart that overflows with:

True submission to God’s will (The Lordship of Christ)

Changes how we plan, think, and live

We don’t just simply say ‘Lord Willing’ we truely want to do according to His Will

Signs of a surrendered life:

Acknowledging God’s sovereignty “If the Lord WIlls”

Living with humility - “We will live”

Acknowledging God as sovereign even over my Life

Prioritizing eternal matters “We also do this or that”

Opposite of the 5 selfish mindsets

Obedience

James exhorts his readers to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that. This fourth alternative and positive response to God’s will, that of acknowledging and obeying it, generally marks true believers.

The present infinitive form of the verb translated to say reveals that submission to God’s will must be habitual and continual. In every aspect of their lives and in every decision they face, believers’ response is to say “If the Lord wills.” Simply put, the will of God is central to all their plans (cf. Acts 18:21; Rom. 1:10; 15:32; 1 Cor. 4:19; 16:7; Phil. 2:19, 24; Heb. 6:3).

Acknowledging God’s will affirms His sovereignty over all aspects of life. We live only because God so wills it, for He controls life and death (Deut. 32:39; Job 12:9–10; Pss. 39:4–5; 104:29; Heb. 9:27; Rev. 1:18). God also controls everything people do and all the circumstances of life.

For the Christian, doing God’s will is an act of worship (Rom. 12:1–2).

It is to be done from the heart (Eph. 6:6), as a way of life (Col. 1:9–10; 4:12), recognizing that He must energize us to do it (Heb. 13:20–21). In John 13:17 the Lord Jesus Christ pronounced the reward given those who do God’s will: “If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

Saying “If the Lord wills’ Must go together with a hear that

Conclusion

How does this apply to us today? How can i obey this command?

This phrase is a common New Testament expression and is the expression of trust in God for his ordering of every realm of human life.

Your speech will reflect your level of dependance and submission to the Lordship of Christ

Saying Lord Willing might sound to some as habitual, but if from your heart you can’t help but acknowledge God’s hand upon your future, it reflects your dependence.

Similar to ending a prayer in Amen (Let it be) as a confirmation that we trust God that what we prayer will come to be.

So too our lives, goals, and actions are to reflect our submission, dependence and desire to do the will of God.

Instead of it simply being - If i live, and if it’s God’s will. Our attitude is one of submission to His will as a DESIRE to do it.

Prayer