Avoiding the Trap of Practical Atheism

James was not condemning planning, but presumptuous planning. He was confident in his own abilities and his own doings. He had the finances, the resources, the knowledge, the will to get things done, and yet he was foolish. He was confident in the outcome of his life.

Proverbs 27:1 ESV

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

Confident Without God

They were planning, living without any thought for God.

“We will go,” “we will spend,” “we will do business, “we will profit.”

They were living like they were the ones determining the course of their life.

This is the Course of Natural Men

Men naturally proceed down this course. They live, they act, and they proceed like there is no God.

They Knew God but did not honor him.

They became “wise” without him and exchanged him for other things.

They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, eventually they didn’t see fit to acknowledge God.

This is a temptation for Christians

Though not the norm, this can be a trap for Christians. Falling into decision making, living like practical atheists. Making decisions without praying, only considering the earthly outcome of business decisions. Living for the moment.

The Problem Accessed

1. A Failure To Consider vs. 14

Life is short and unpredictable.

Placing your confidence in the future is like gambling, eventually you will loose it all.

We Cannot Take life for granted!

I don't know about tomorrow I just live from day to day I don't borrow from its sunshine For its skies may turn to gray I don't worry o'er the future For I know what Jesus said And today I'll walk beside Him For He knows what is ahead

Chorus: Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand

I don't know about tomorrow It may bring me poverty But the one who feeds the sparrow Is the one who stands by me And the path that be my portion May be through the flame or flood But His presence goes before me And I'm covered with His blood

Repeat Chorus

Questions to Diagnose Symptoms

Do you ever think:

I have plenty of time to do what I should. (Pray, Read the Bible, witness, spend time with family, etc.)

I have plenty of time to do what I could. (Tomorrow I can get done that project, or learn that skill)

I know what I’m doing is wrong, but I can make up for it later.

My life is mine to live, I can do what I want.

James says, “You don’t know what tomorrow will bring!”

Chorus: Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand But I know who holds tomorrow And I know who holds my hand

Repeat Chorus

2. A Failure to Act vs. 15

(Disregarding God) Failure to Trust Him, to give our life to him.

Pride and arrogant assumption.

Encouraged By The Dangers of Prosperity

A Merchant= Wealthy Man

It Distracts A Person

It consumes their energies and distracts their attention.

Luke 8:14 ESV

14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

Gives false confidence

James Theology in Application

“An affluent culture turns our hearts towards fleeting satisfactions and away from God,” while “unprecedented prosperity has left our lives full but not necessarily fulfilled.” Simon concludes that “the problem is not that we’ve tried faith and found it wanting, but that we’ve tried mammon and found it addictive, and as a result find following Christ inconvenient.”

It’s A Matter of The Heart

Not merely a passing statement

Empty boasting, vain confidence, disregarding God.

They were acting like they alone determined the course of their own life.

Daniel 5:23 ESV

23 but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored.

We are dependent on God for everything:

Acts 17:28 ESV

28 for “ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Proverbs 19:21 ESV

21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Proverbs 16:1 ESV

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Psalm 33:10–11 ESV

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

It’s absurd, like walking down the wrong side of the freeway claiming, “I’m doing alright, look how far I’m getting.”

Answer: 1. You are getting far because of the generosity of those driving. They are swerving to not hit you. So God is being generous to you holding back his hand of wrath!

2. You are ignoring the fact that you will eventually meet a collision!

How a Man Conducts business is Theological!

It’s living like a practical Atheist.

Questions

Do you fret over the future?

Do you boast about tomorrow saying, “ I am confident in my success.”

Do you get upset when your plans don’t go your way?

Do you work frantically trying to accomplish your plans never having a moments rest?

God’s Provision For You

Jesus is in this passage in that he is the sovereign ruler of all men. He governs their lives with care and concern. He demonstrated this concern in his death on the Cross. We are guilty of slighting him when we do not resign ourselves to such a faithful and worthy Lord. He invites us to cast our cares on him, he cares for us!

Do you

The Solution Presented

Not being sanctimonious or pious

Not being fatalistic about what life.

An Attitude of Dependence

Trusting Gods Will

Living with a constant awarness of God’s sovereign hand.

Psalm 37:5 ESV

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Proverbs 16:1–5 ESV

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. 3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. 4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. 5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Prov. 16:1-

Boasting in Him

Jeremiah 9:23–24 ESV

23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”