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“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such & such a town & spend a year there & trade & 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 & then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live & do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
To listen to the audio of this message, click below…
The old saying… “God willing and the Creeks don’t rise“ refers to the Creek Indian nation and war. It has nothing to do with a literal creek flooding it’s banks…
Why THIS message TODAY? 1) It is pledge Sunday. 2) Was going to deliver it NEXT Sunday to begin a new series on 1st Sunday of the month. 3) “G.W.” is always on my mind. And 4) I want us to have a BIBLICAL view of life & all that happens IN life! God Willing, we’ll finish 2 Cor next Sunday.
Pack of matches. After each statement, light one & quickly blow it out (“M”).
In a few days we’ll eat a Thanksgiving meal (M). Then celebrate Christmas with family (M). Watch bowl games (M). In fact, there’s a lot we’ll be doing the next several weeks (M)… Or will we?
Life is fragile & uncertain (Rest of matchbook). By answering the phone or a knock on the door, life can take a 90 or 180 degree turn, OR stop. We don’t know what the future holds. So let’s examine James 4:13-16…
“You who SAY.” A rebuke, but why important? It acknowledges God. Our words & heart go together (Mt 12:34-37). It affirms absolute reliance on God. If we believe it, we should say it!
“Today or tomorrow we WILL…” Not against making plans… but planning as if God doesn’t exist. We know “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” but what about the rest of Heb 11:6?
Whoever would draw near to God must believe He exists & rewards those who seek Him.
In Is 14:13-14 are the “Five I Wills” of Satan. For us to say “I WILL” & not take God into account is to act as Satan did. It was for prideful arrogance that God cast Satan out of heaven.
Everything Christians do is about obedience to… glorifying… & pleasing GOD. Whether cleaning house… math… dating… work… vacation… or sleeping; we make it our aim to please Him (2 Cor 5:9). So our attitude toward God in our thoughts & words IS important!
“What is your life?” The reason I lit matches & blew them out was a visual reminder that our life is a mist… a vapor… smoke that is here & gone. Then we stand before God. This is serious because life is short… & eternity is long! If we live to 100… in terms of eternity it’s nothing! Because of that…
“You ought to say, IF THE LORD wills…” Put life in context of God. “If the LORD wills…” means everything & everyone is subject to Him. Ps 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s & the fullness thereof, the world & those who dwell therein…” Let me encourage you theologically.
God is in 100%, absolute, complete, & total control of everything. Is 46:9-10…
Remember the former things of old; for I am God, & there is no other; I am God, & there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning & from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, & I will accomplish all My purpose…
This is comforting because it exalts God! It puts all in perspective from God’s point of view, not ours. It’s comforting God is sovereign over everything & everyone… without exception! Why? Think about the alternatives…
Alternative 1: God & Satan are equal. NO! Alternative 2: Satan is in control. NO! Alternative 3: Others are in control. NO! Alternative 4: I’m in control. NO!! Alternative 5: No one is in control! NO!!!!
GOD is perfect… loving… merciful… good… compassionate… full of grace & forgiveness. I KNOW everything HE does IS perfect… good… & for Christian’s benefit. Listen…
Ps 11:1 In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, “Flee like a bird to your mountain…”
Ro 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us?
Ps 56:4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?
Ps 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Phil 1:21 To live is Christ… to die IS GAIN!
Pr 3:5 Trust IN THE LORD with all your heart & do NOT lean on your own understanding.
Here’s how those play into life with Is 46 & Ja 4. Trust God without exception. Whatever He sends or allows into life IS ultimately good! Therefore everything is a reason to rejoice & praise Him. Just because we don’t see how something can be good doesn’t mean it isn’t good (We’re not God!).
Either Phil 4:4 is true or it isn’t… “Rejoice in the Lord always.” Ja 1:2-3 is true or it isn’t… “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet various trials, 3 knowing the testing of your faith produces maturity.”
Ps 84:11 is true or it isn’t… “For the Lord God is a sun & shield; the Lord bestows favor & honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”
God knows what is best for you! If you get what you want, you may not want what you get! So TRUST HIM that He knows BETTER THAN YOU what needs to happen to you in your life!! If it is good, you get it… if it isn’t, YOU WON’T. TRUST GOD!
Ps 24:1, What can God do with what is His? Whatever He wants. Why? He’s God! Ro 9:19…
For who can resist His will? 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use & another for dishonorable use? (See Mt 20:15)
“We will live.” James writes LIFE is God’s to do with as He pleases! If God wills us to make it home… we will. If it isn’t His will… we won’t. If we wake up tomorrow, God kept our heart beating & lungs breathing. If He doesn’t do those things… we die. “If THE LORD wills, we will live…”
“As it is… you boast in… in your arrogance.” James doesn’t pull any punches does he? Many don’t like James’ talk, but we need it. To ignore God in life is arrogant. For anyone to say what they WILL or WILL NOT do is arrogantly conceited & egotistical. Do you remember Lk 12:16-20?
The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 & he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘ I will do this: I will tear down my barns & build larger ones, & there I will store all my grain & my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, & the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
Nebuchadnezzar learned about arrogance when God made him crazy for 7 years (Dan 4:28-33). Herod was eaten of worms & died because of his arrogance (Ac 12:21-23). Why would God do such? Because of Is 48:11… “My glory I will NOT share with another.” So we too should be reverent before God.
Not to believe, say, & affirm that God rules over life & all in our life is ARROGANT.
But doesn’t it seem harsh that because a person speaks lightly or thinks something to themselves for God to take such drastic action? Not if you consider God’s perspective in the last sentence as written in James 4:16… “All such boasting is EVIL…”
Boasting is evil. In God’s sight ALL sin is an offense to His holiness. So serious that just ONE evil thought is enough to send a person to hell. WHAT? Mt 5:22… “I say to you… everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment…” Just being angry with someone incurs God’s judgment!
Regarding our commitment to next year’s budget, let’s remember we are doing so… GOD WILLING. IF God’s wills, we will give X amount. If God’s wills, we will be able to give. IF GOD WILLS… we will continue living… for HIS glory.
It is good to be reminded of the seriousness of life AND are relationship to God. It is good to meditate upon such things so that we receive each moment as a gift from God. It is good to have James’ perspective so that we keep an eye toward eternity.
To conclude… I suggest we contemplate the holiness & greatness of God. Be reverent in our speech & actions… knowing we ALL are suspended over eternity by nothing more than a spider’s thread in God’s hands who at any moment can let go.
As we live each day… let’s give proper credit to God by HOW we live AND what we say…
Christians, Ps 90:12… “Teach us to number our days” so that we glorify God.”
Others… believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
[i] The phrase, “God willing and the creeks don’t rise” has nothing to do with a literal creek flooding its banks. It refers to the Creek Indian Nation and war.