James 4:13-17
Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Living in the Sweet Spot of God
1. Don’t make your own plans
13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”
Proverbs 16:1-3 We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.
2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
2. Don’t trust what you think
14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
3. Do what the Lord wants
15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
Colossians 3:3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
“God should be the silent partner in all our plans and work, to be consulted, to be followed whenever His will is made known” -Beacon Bible Commentary page 236-
4. Don’t Boast
16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.
5. Do what is right (or Righteous)
17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Luke 12:47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.
JAMES IS REPEATING HIMSELF AS HE HAS ALREADY SAID IN:
James 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
James 2:14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?
James 3:13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
James is saying don’t just believe in theory, but in practice…. If you know what is right and don’t do it, it is wrong…. Not only is it wrong it is sin!!!
Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Living in the Sweet Spot of God
1. Don’t make your own plans
13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”
Proverbs 16:1-3 We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.
2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
3 Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.
2. Don’t trust what you think
14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
3. Do what the Lord wants
15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
Colossians 3:3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.
“God should be the silent partner in all our plans and work, to be consulted, to be followed whenever His will is made known” -Beacon Bible Commentary page 236-
4. Don’t Boast
16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.
5. Do what is right (or Righteous)
17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
Luke 12:47 “And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.
JAMES IS REPEATING HIMSELF AS HE HAS ALREADY SAID IN:
James 1:22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
James 2:14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?
James 3:13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
James is saying don’t just believe in theory, but in practice…. If you know what is right and don’t do it, it is wrong…. Not only is it wrong it is sin!!!