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38th Street Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“What Is Your Life?” |
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I. Introduction.
A. “Arrogance.” “Evil.” Not words to flatter, not the kind of
language we use to give a positive image of someone, or to
compliment them.1. James uses word “arrogance”, and concept of “evil”
to identify person who leaves God out of his, or her,
plans; the arrogance and foolishness of leaving God
out of our lives.2. To put this another way, James gives us a picture of
someone with a mistaken confidence, and with a
misdirected life.B. When it comes to peoples’ ideas, and attitudes, about God,
you run whole line from those who deny His existence to
those who put their whole confidence in Him and His care.1. Some openly, boldly proclaim “There is no God.” To worship and obey this non-existent “God” is foolish. To believe in the existence of some supreme being is merely to have something to lean on, to support us, in our own feelings of weakness and inadequacy.
2. Others stop short of denying God’s existence. They claim it’s simply impossible to know whether He exists or not.
3. There are even those who attempt to establish a religious system that retains the elements of Christianity, but without the doctrine of an Almighty God and a Divine Son. To these people, idea of “God” as supreme has no meaning for a modern technological society. From this developed the humanistic point of view, where human beings assume supremacy – at least those strong enough to dominate others.
C. Our culture, our nation, has sought to, as much as possible,
eliminate God from any considerations. And, the church
can fall victim to this “secular” trend. Becomes
increasingly difficult to identify Christians from non-
Christians. Distinctions are blurred; differences in
attitudes, and actions, have disappeared.1. In our culture, many who call themselves
“Christians” strive for material possessions with as
much devotion and dedication as any worldly
materialist.2. In our culture, many who call themselves
“Christians” adopt whatever ethical or moral
standards are currently popular, without regard for
biblical pronouncements on such matters.3. In our culture, many who call themselves
“Christians” attend church services, but show little
evidence of commitment to God, or Christ, in their
daily lives.D. But, in the 1st century, people had these same attitudes.
James challenges peoples’ arrogance and pride. He speaks
of the limited knowledge, and limited view, people have –
not knowing the future, not knowing what’s going to
happen beyond each moment of time, now knowing how
things will be in the days ahead. So, he asks question:
“. . . what is your life? . . .” (verse 14). And, he adds the
thought: “What is your life – apart from God?”II. Today And Tomorrow.
A. We base our plans – we plan our lives – on presumptions:
presumptions of “today” and “tomorrow.”1. That’s how James starts this section of his letter.
What about “today” and “tomorrow?”a. Of course, we’ll be alive and in good health.
No emergency will arise, no sickness get us
down, no sudden death intrude on our lives.
Tomorrow will be just like today – ours to
use as we please.b. Today or tomorrow “. . . we will go to such
and such a city, . . .” The weather will be
good; transportation will be available; we’ll
not have an accident – all will go as we’ve
planned it.c. Today or tomorrow we will “. . . spend a
year there, . . .” We’ll have a place to stay
at a price we can afford. Everything will be
fine there: no riot will break out, or
epidemic occur, or war begin, no fire, or
earthquake, or flood, or any disaster, natural
or man-made, will interfere with our life for
the next year.d. Today or tomorrow we will “. . . buy and
sell, and make a profit.” Good will be
available, of the type, and price, we want.
We’ll have no shortages, or damaged goods;
no changes in style or tastes will affect our
business, no regulations that could cause
problems, no competition or shortage of
labor. Nothing will get in the way of our
success.2. All of this planning, all of these intentions are good,
except for one thing: they leave out God. One
writer said it this way: “The sin of these [people]
was not in planning for the future, but in failing to
consider God in their plans.”3. To live today, and plan for tomorrow, without
considering God, and the uncertainties of life, is
arrogance and evil.B. Life in this world has so many uncertainties. Our
tranquility, our peace, can be so easily, and quickly,
disrupted.1. Sickness, or disability, can affect a career. Friends
we thought we could count on can abandon or turn
against us; others we love or respect can let us
down; jobs can suddenly disappear, or we confront
transfer in order to keep a job.2. We simply can’t be sure “tomorrow” will be like
“today”. All our plans can be made useless by the
smallest of changes or the largest of disruptions, as
Proverb writer says: Proverbs 27:1: “Do not boast
about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day
may bring forth.”C. The best approach to tomorrow is to plan ahead and rely
upon God for the fulfillment of our good, wise plans
(verse 15: “. . . ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this
or that.’”)1. The uncertainty of life is not a cause either for fear
or inaction. It’s the reason for realizing, and
accepting, our complete dependence on God.2. The right way to live is to commit the future and all
our plans into the hands of God – and to remember
that our plans may not be within the purpose of
God.3. The alternative approach is to make our plans
without considering God and His Will. But, that
takes away our sense of dependence on Him. It
promotes feeling secure within ourselves, forgetting
that God gives us what we have and makes it
possible for us to do what we do.4. Jesus’ parable of the “rich farmer” (Luke 12)
illustrates the point: a false sense of security was
destroyed, plans carefully laid were made useless,
by the Will of God. (Farmer’s calculations included
everything but God – and his own spiritual
security.)a. A wealthy man died, and one of his friends
asked another friend: “How much did he
leave?” Answer was: “Everything.”b. Ecclesiastes 6:1-2 (READ).
D. Because life is brief, because life is uncertain, we
“. . . ought to say ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’” (verse 15).1. The reality of the brevity of life is recognized by
people, even though we don’t always act like we
recognize it. If people weren’t concerned about
the length of life – why go to all the expense and
bother to try to extend it?2. The reality of what life really is all about is not so
generally recognized. We spend so much time,
money, and effort to enhance and extend physical
life, yet often neglect, or completely ignore, our
spiritual person, the real “us”, that which makes us
alive; that which will live beyond our time in this
world, beyond “today” and “tomorrow.”3. When we yield to the sovereignty of God, we make
life more than just a brief time in this world.
(Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ, and
to die is gain.”). That takes care of both today and
tomorrow, and forever.E. God is in control of today and tomorrow. Each day is a gift
from God, and time is a valuable commodity that we use up
hour-by-hour.F. “What Is Your Life?” James says it is like the morning
mist which evaporates quickly in the sun. It appears, and
disappears. It has no substance of its own, nor does it exist
here beyond “. . . a little time. . .” before it’s “seen no
more.”1. The “we-can-do-anything-we-please” attitude is
boastful and foolish.2. Man proposes, but God disposes. Man operates in
the present, but God holds the future in His hands.III. Conclusion.
A. James concludes with a threat. If a person knows
something is wrong, but continues to do it, to him it is
sin. If a person knows something is right, but refuses to
do it, to him it is sin. (verse 17).1. We’ve been warned. The truth is before us.
2. To continue in the self-assured manner that seeks
to make plans for our life, without reference to
God and His Will, is sin.B. “What Is Your Life?” It’s either a brief and uncertain time,
or the preparation for eternity.