James 4:13-17; Providence

Introduction

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My mother can be the best person or the worst person to travel with. I remember the first time my family was going to visit my uncle in Arkansas. I am old enough to remember a time when gps devices were still a thing. I’m not talking about a device with gps. No, I’m talking about gps like a TomTom. We could not afford a gps for the car. So, the evening we were leaving to visit my uncle, my mother drove over to my father’s apartment for him to print out the MapQuest directions for Arkansas.

We had no plans on where we were going to stay, where we were going to stop for food, for gas, nothing. We had no plans. She is always ready to do things without plans.

Other people cannot live like that. I heard a Christian comedian say that his wife is such a planner that she would be complain to Jesus when he came back if he messed with her calendar.

Clearly, both ways have ways to improve.

Need

We need a to have plans that do not waste the time God has given us or make ourselves God. We need to live in God’s providence.

Referent

James 4:13-17

Organization

Consider Your Life (vs. 13-14)

Consider the Lord’s Will (vs. 15)

Consider Your Boasting (vs. 16)

Consider Your Actions (vs. 17)

Sermon in a sentence:

I will plan in God’s providence.

Context

James has repeatedly warned his listeners to put away their boasting, pride, and arrogance.

James is now moving to the second to the last section in his epistle.

There is debate if this section is to Christians or nonbelievers.

It appears that James is speaking to “wealthy” believers. We see this with the connection to 5:1 - “Come now”.

This is also consistent with how James has posed questions to the believers.

Consider Your lIfe (vs. 13-14)

James is not against planning; he is against presumption.

The language he uses emphasizes the confidence (arrogance) of these people and their plans

πορευσόμεθα - we will travel

πόλιν - any

ποιήσομεν - we will do (spend)

ἐμπορευσόμεθα - we will trade

You could say vs. 13 “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that town and we will spend a year there and we will trade and we will make a profit.”

These individuals are likely traveling merchants that are seeking to make a profit.

The lower class were often weary of traveling merchants.

Roman occupation deprived local economies of the natural resources for the wealthy in Italy.

In the church, there is a serious issue with immaturity. We have believers that do not act like Christians. However, I think the more prevalent problem is our ability to act like the world. Our plans, our business strategies, even our lives look just like the worlds.

We are really good at ignoring the fleetingness of this life.

Everyone will remember the 9th president, William Henry Harrison. An affluent man from a British family from Virginia. He was a general and became the governor of the Indiana territory. Harrison became well known for his victory over Native Americans at a battle near the Tippecaneo River. During his presidential campaign, he used the famous slogan, “Tippecanoe and Tyler too.”

He was sworn in as the 9th president at an astounding 68 years old. Remember, the average life expectancy was roughly 40 years old. To prove that he could handle the job, he gave the longest presidential inauguration speech. He gave a two hour speech in the cold rain with no umbrella. He would later have a cold that would turn into pneumonia. A merely 31 days into his presidency, William Henry Harrison would die.

Saints, this man had reached the highest office possible in American politics. He wanted to prove to everyone that he could do the job. Yet, despite his best efforts, he could not stop death. Just like that, a smoke that lingers for awhile but then clears the air.

Consider the Lord’s Will

The sovereignty of God is often so misunderstood. People will often say:

They believe it but then they reject what the Bible explicitly says.

They outright say they deny God’s sovereignty.

Or some people actually do believe it.

Genesis 50:20 ESV

20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Daniel 4:34–35 ESV

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

Psalm 115:3 ESV

3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Proverbs 21:1 ESV

1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

The 1689 LBCF Chapter 5 - Divine Providence

Can you truly say that you agree with this?

God the good Creator of all things, in His infinite power and wisdom does uphold, direct, dispose, and govern all creatures and things, from the greatest even to the least, by His most wise and holy providence, to the end for the which they were created, according unto His infallible foreknowledge, and the free and immutable counsel of His own will; to the praise of the glory of His wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.

R.C. Sproul used to say that there are no maverick molecules.

James tells us that it is not just a truth we believe but a truth we confess.

If that is the case saints, what else can we say but “it is well with my soul”.

Consider Your Boasting

Making plans as if we are sovereign demonstrates how arrogant we are.

Boasting in our plans, our successes, our profits is evil. It is taking the glory meant for God for ourselves.

Instead saints, God’s Word tells us what we should boast in.

James 1:9 “9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,”

Psalm 34:2 “2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Galatians 6:14 “14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Consider Your Actions

There is nothing sinful about planning. But it is sinful to neglect God.

He is reminding his audience that they can’t hide behind the “I didn’t do anything wrong” argument.

When we look back at atrocities like the Holocaust, we truly can’t fathom it can we? We ask ourselves, “How did so many people do nothing?” When we think about the slaughter of 1 million unborn children in American, can we say, “Well I wasn’t the one having the abortion.”?

Conclusion

Saints, our lives are fleeting moments. We are here today and gone tomorrow. I do not want us to waist our lives on our plans. I would rather be the pastor of Colgate Baptist Church and be in God’s will then be the next Billy Graham for selfish gain. At the same time, I love Colgate! But I would rather be somewhere else than here if that means I am following God’s plans, not mine.

C.T Studd said,

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

Application

Lay down your arrogance and plans you have for your life. Put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. He will direct your plans and path.

Say Deo Volente