[0:00] And this morning we're still in the book of James, so I'm going to encourage you to turn to the book of James. And again, James is a book of the Bible. All God's Word is profitable. That's what the Bible says. It's all good for us.
[0:13] James in particular, though, really talks about practical things in our lives, ways that we should act, ways that we should think, especially things that build up the body or the family that is the church.
[0:26] And we've talked about some of those welcoming each person that comes through the doors and understanding they are valuable, so we need to treat them that way. We've talked about our tongue and the power of our tongue, the words that we speak, how it can build up people in the family, or it can tear down. There is power in the tongue.
[0:46] And this week we're in James chapter 4. We're going to start in verse 13. And this morning it's really about kind of our thinking. A lot of James is just about our actions, but our actions really happen because of the way we think, right? Right? We think first and then we act.
[1:09] Well, most of the time we think and then we act. We should think and then act. But this is really about how we think and how we view things. So James chapter 4, we're going to begin in verse 13. And as we read God's Word, if you're able, I'm going to ask if you'd stand as we read God's Word.
[1:26] We're going to start in James chapter 4, verse 13 and read through chapter 5, verse 8. So James chapter 4, verse 13. Verse 13.
[2:03] Verse 14.
[2:33] Behold, Let's pray.
[3:08] Let's pray.
[3:20] Lord God, once again, we just thank You that as we've come into Your house this morning that we can know You're here with us. Lord, we can look around and see each other's faces.
[3:32] And Lord, we can't necessarily look and see You, but we know You're here because You promise us that You are in Your Word. you say very clearly that when two or three are gathered in your name that you are in their midst you are in their presence and lord we have far more here than that this morning and we are gathered together in your name and lord we know then that you are here with us and lord as we read from your word you have a desire to share with us to speak to us to teach us to correct us to challenge us all these things lord you have a desire to do through your word and i pray lord that is exactly what happens this morning just give us an understanding of your word and lord help us to have ears that are ready to hear we've already talked this morning about sometimes we can talk and others just don't listen and lord this morning you are going to be speaking through your word and yet it's our choice whether our ears are open to hear it so lord i pray for each person that's in this place that our ears would just be open to your word that we would be ready to hear it and receive it and take it into our lives and let it have an impact on how we think and on how we live so lord i just pray that your word would accomplish in each one of us what you intend and what you desire and we ask and pray these things in the name of jesus christ our lord and our savior and all god's people said amen you can be seated this morning so as we get into this chapter of james it talks about something that that i really think impacts all of us you know sometimes we can read things in god's word and we can think well i don't really do that so this really isn't applicable to me or to my life but as we get into james chapter 4 verse 13 it begins to talk about something that that all of us have and that is our view of tomorrow how many of you have thought about tomorrow wow that's a lot of you have thought about i don't think that far ahead that's a whole day away but the reality is we often think about tomorrow we make plans for tomorrow we think oh i'm going to do this i'm going to do that you know today's sunday tomorrow's monday right and we i know sunday's the first day of the week but we think of monday as the beginning of the work week right so we have plans things we need to get done things we need to to accomplish whether it's going to the office or arriving at work or going to school or going to the laundromat or whatever kind of things that you do in your life you make plans for it right right are those plans going to happen well that's what god's word is talking about look at what it says in verse 13 he starts out go to now and that really means come now or listen up to what it's going to have to say come now you that say today or tomorrow we will go into such a city and continue there for a year and we will buy and sell and get gain anything wrong with that plan really is there anything wrong with that plan you know look at the parts of this plan that this person that this person has all right first of all they're making a plan is it bad to make a plan should we just get up in the morning and see what happens maybe go to work maybe not just depends on how we feel i mean is that a good thing no so is it bad to make a plan no so this person's making a good plan that isn't necessarily a bad thing he says we will go into such a city and continue their year and we'll buy and sell so that's kind of an occupation right that's their job that's how they're they're making some finances they're buying and selling so that's their job is it wrong to have a job is it wrong to plan for your job no no tammy you're teaching this week do you have a plan for what you're going to teach or are you
[7:34] just winging it this week i think i'll have a plan you think you'll have a plan some days you don't admit that she has a plan teachers have to do lesson plans for the week they have to put in what they're going to do and and there's a whole requirement to that aspect of it so again as we think about our jobs and having a plan that's not a bad thing so this person again not a bad thing they're planning for what they're going to do and then it says and get gain that's the last part of the verse what does that mean and get gain they're going to make money is that a bad thing i mean none of us have a plan i'm going to work this week and lose money we don't that's not a good plan is it a bad thing to have a plan and and make some money off that plan so none of these things are wrong right they're all good things so what is the problem here what's the problem here he's not what it's all about me and not god is god included anywhere in this verse that we just read i'll read it again go to now or listen up you that say today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city continue there a year and buy and sell and get gain how many of you see god mentioned in that verse that therein lies the problem in this plan there is nothing wrong with making plans the problem is if we leave god out of those plans god should be an integral part of any plan that we make god should be a part of it and you find in this verse although all the individual things that they're doing in this plan there's nothing wrong with that except that they're not including god in their plans and and it says that they're going to go to this place and continue there for a year so they're making plans a whole year down the road right and again what are they leaving out god planning a year down the road 365 days but not including god in any part of that and what i started with is was by saying often we read things in the bible and say well that's not me i didn't i didn't commit murder i didn't uh i didn't lie i don't i don't do that i'm fine what about this how often do we fail to include god in our plans that we make think about that for a moment in your life the plans that you make how often do you fail to include god god in your life the plan is that you make how often do you fail to include god in your life and that's why it goes on to share in verse 14 here's the reality whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow we don't know much do we i'm not saying that to insult you but you don't know very much that sounds like an insult doesn't it but i'm including myself in that i don't know very much we might think that we are fully capable of formulating a plan for a year down the road we know what's best for us this is what we want to do and we think we've got it figured out but the bible reminds us the reality we are pretty limited in what we know because what does it say say whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow what does that mean you don't know what tomorrow is going to bring that is kind of a reality that
[11:35] most of the time we don't want to think about doing wouldn't you say that's the truth that we don't know what tomorrow is going to hold because there are things that can completely blow our plans out of the water aren't there from little to big we can wake up and go out to the car and the car doesn't start does that throw all your plans up in the air that's a little thing a car not starting you can wake up and all of a sudden you don't feel very well does that change your plans those are little things that in the grand scheme aren't a big deal there's a lot bigger things that can interrupt our plans too aren't there you can wake up in the morning and get a phone call about a family member that something happened does that change your plans things we don't like to think about but that's the reality isn't it you can be on the way to work and get in an accident does that change your plans you can be diagnosed with some illness tomorrow does that change your plans and I'm not saying any of these to be discouraging but it's the truth that that is reality isn't it we do not know what tomorrow holds and yet sometimes we are so confident in our plan the reality is we don't know much and what it says after that for what is your life in verse 14 it is even a vapor that appears for a little while and vanishes away what is that reminding us of and again this isn't meant to be discouraging but you know what sometimes we need a little dose of reality don't we don't we you ever talk to a young person or a teenager that once in a while they just need a dose of reality and to be told this is really the way it is as Christians and as adults we sometimes need that too and that's what God's Word is telling us what is your life it's a vapor that appears for a little time and then it's gone what does that verse mean don't blink life short what else that's the it's a vapor part a vapor is is is brief it's kind of there for a little while what does the end of that mean and then vanishes away what does that part mean yes the reality of it go ahead and say it you're gonna die wow I went to church and it was really encouraging the pastor told me I was gonna die
[14:08] I'm not telling you that the Bible's telling you that but I hope you already realized that you and I are not gonna be on this earth forever we are not I have countless funerals every year guess what it's gonna be all of us at one point or another unless Jesus Christ comes back first that is reality folks and I don't think we should be scared to talk about that reality or depressed by that reality it is a reality that we have to understand as believers that our lives are brief it's like a vapor and it's gonna vanish away look in verse 15 here's what you ought to say that's a great thing about the Bible it doesn't just tell us what we're doing wrong but then it shows us how to correct it doesn't it this person said this is my plan this is what I'm gonna do how often do you say that this is my plan this is what I'm gonna do here's what you ought to say in verse 15 you ought to say if the Lord wills we shall live and do this or that does that make more sense this is my plan for tomorrow if the Lord allows it this is what I'm gonna do tomorrow if God is okay with that if it fits in with God's plan whose plans are more certain yours or God's and I you know this is a verse that really I as I read it this week as I was studying it it really kind of hit home because I'm one I
[15:57] I make plans and and I try to include God in them but so often we're so busy we just start thinking what I need to get done what I need to do and we just make the plans without thinking about God you know I appreciate Ron it's good to have him back for vacation and often when Ron says well I'll see you tomorrow he'll add on and I appreciate this part Lord willing Lord willing Ron says that often when he's talking with me I'm guessing Ron is that something you just say when you're only talking to me not just me what do you think for some other people that maybe aren't in church all the time when Ron says Lord willing what do you think they think about that maybe they think it's strange but do you think they think about it maybe depends but when you say Lord willing what is that really saying if God allows it and here's the thing when you say Lord willing you know what you're acknowledging that he's in charge if the Lord wills it that means if God allows it that means God is in charge doesn't it if we don't say that what are we assuming who's in charge who's in charge you know here's one of those things and this has to do with well look at the last two verses in this chapter but now you rejoice in your boasting all such rejoicing is evil what is the boasting it's talking about do you think of this as boasting here's the thing if you don't include God in your plans you're boasting by saying you're in control
[17:51] I'm in control of my plans I'm in complete control of my life I get the credit for everything that I do because I'm in control that is kind of boasting isn't it isn't it have you ever been around somebody that boasted a lot oh wow that was a quick response how do you feel with someone that boasts a lot annoyed what's that jealousy they're very selfish or someone that just likes to always take the credit for things you know that's part of what it's talking about here when we don't fail to say it's up to God we're kind of taking credit and people can assume then that we think we're in charge of our lives when we're not and giving credit to the person that the credit is due is a pretty important thing and he says at the very last verse therefore to him that knows to do good and does it not to him it is a sin why in the world does he add that part in the end what it's talking about is we think a sin is just things that you do right the way you treat someone stealing that's something you do right lying that's something you do we think a sin as something you do those are sins of commission sins you commit but there are also sins of omission that means things that you should do but you don't that also can be a sin and that's what he's talking about to him that knows to do good and does it not so it's something you're not doing you're sinning by not doing something and often that's not giving God the credit and not acknowledging that God is the one in control it would be like you know it's been years since I played basketball but I played basketball through high school and let's say that somebody shot and made the winning basket in the game it wouldn't have been me anyway but let's say somebody did that and then after the game people started coming up to me and saying
[20:06] Chris that was a great shot at the end of the game good job you won the game with that shot and I just said thank you then another person came up and said that was a wonderful shot you won the game with that and I said thank you what would you think of that what am I doing taking credit for what something I didn't do and aren't I also taking credit away from someone else the person that actually did it the person that actually made the shot you know the things that we accomplish the things that we do in life how often do we take credit for those things that's a natural thing right who do we also need to give the credit to God when we take credit for things in our life without acknowledging God it's talking about boasting here isn't that what we're really doing look what I did when in fact who allowed you to do that who allowed you to live another day to do it who gave you the intelligence to do it who gave you the health to do it who gave you life in the first place who really deserves the credit
[21:24] God folks again we're talking not just about things you do but about things you fail to do and giving God the credit is one of those things do we give God the credit in life the way that we need to and by saying Lord willing we're kind of giving God the credit in advance well I'm going to do this if God allows it because He's the one in charge not me and again this is a reality of life that we sometimes struggle with I want you to say this morning I'm not in charge can you do that?
[22:06] okay look at the person next to you tell them you're not in charge either now wait wait wait I should put a caveat on that if you are a child talking to your parent they are kind of in charge so be careful I think Adam was maybe going to enjoy saying that to his mom down here in the front row I should have thought about that ahead of time but ultimately we are not in charge are we?
[22:40] God is the one in charge He is the one that deserves the credit and as we live our lives and as we make plans we need to constantly remind ourselves that God is in charge not us that we will do something and we can make plans for something if God allows it if it's okay with God I'm going to put Adam on the spot just for a minute when you want to do something in life do you have to check with mom make sure it's alright?
[23:09] it depends on what it is or your dad it depends if it's something big do you have to check with them or you just go do it? check with them do we do that with God?
[23:25] do we check with God? hey is this okay? is this what you want me doing? it's all part of the same thing folks our sins aren't just what we do but it's sometimes what we fail to do failing to acknowledge God failing to include God in our plans failing to acknowledge that He is the one in charge not us the plan that this person made in the end was to get gain but they didn't acknowledge God folks you and I in our lives need to acknowledge God because our lives are a vapor they're here one minute and they're gone the next but this isn't to leave us without hope you know you can go on to that it's all about our focus and you can go on to the next chapter and it talks a lot about a rich man look in chapter 5 verse 1 go now you rich men weep and howl for your misery that shall come upon you and again problem is not riches but look at the end of verse 3 you have heaped treasures together for the last day again they're accumulating more and more and more but what are they leaving out of the equation?
[24:37] God they're leaving out God folks in our lives we need to acknowledge God our lives are just a vapor but I want you to look at verses 7 and 8 because these are the verses we're going to close with we're not done yet though so don't tune me out but look down in verse 7 of chapter 5 be patient therefore brethren to the coming of the Lord behold the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth and has long patience for it until he receives the early and latter rain what in the world is that talking about?
[25:14] what's a husbandman? it's a farmer and he's patient right? does a farmer have to be patient? is a farmer in control?
[25:28] not at all Cody you in control when you farm you put the seed in the ground right? and then you make it rain farmer understands he's not in control he puts the seed in the ground and then it grows if what?
[25:49] if God permits because if it doesn't rain is that seed ever going to grow? no can't grow without moisture won't happen acknowledging that God is in control and being patient for that making sure God is a part of our plans and it says a farmer is patient and he waits for the rain you've done that a little bit this year haven't you?
[26:14] verse 8 be you also patient establish or strengthen your heart here's the part we need to focus on folks for the coming of the Lord draws near what's that mean?
[26:33] I don't think this is that hard to understand what does that mean? well he's coming back near what does near mean? it's close it's close now do we know when it's going to happen?
[26:48] when the Lord's going to come back? no but what we do know is he will come back and when he comes back is he going to find you including him as a part of his plan? or find you just kind of doing your own thing?
[27:02] there's a question the point of this sermon this morning is not complicated are you including God in your plans? are you giving him credit for the things in your life and acknowledging that it's all up to God not us if the Lord wills I'll do this or that if God allows it I'll do this or that and by saying that little phrase that Ron uses at the end Lord willing that's acknowledging that it's up to God not me I pray that we kind of take that as an example in our lives you don't have to use that phrase whatever phrase you want to use but remember that it's if the Lord wills God is in charge not us and when we make plans include God in them you know you think of a marriage and if I made plans all the time and never included Tammy in them how would that go over?
[28:01] not well not well and really it would damage our relationship wouldn't it? when we make plans without including God you know what it damages our relationship with Him make plans it's a good thing but include God acknowledge God think about tomorrow and make plans but understand it's if the Lord wills because it's up to Him let's bow our heads Lord God thank you again for your word this morning Lord I thank you for this reminder it seems like a simple one and yet Lord it's so important our sins are not always just what we do but also what we fail to do and Lord I think this is one that can often hit home in our lives that we fail to acknowledge you in our plans that we fail to recognize that you are the one ultimately in charge and that it's up to you in the end so Lord I pray as we live our lives that you would help us to remember that you are the one in charge not us that it is your plans that we need to follow first and foremost not our own so Lord just help us to constantly be focused on you and to realize that it's not about us it's about you help us to include you in any and all plans that we make and we ask and pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ
[29:27] Amen Amen