DV

15 March 09'

Mr. Harrod - Faith in Action #14 : James 4:13-16

• James is talking to a group of christians who are very self-assured. Confidently, they plan out their next business trips and are convinced that everything will work out well for themselves.

- it's ok to buy and sell or to make plans. Often we're just being wise stewards of what God's given us when we do that. But -

- in verse 14, James tells us that it matters how we carry out these activities. We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, we can plan on things happening but they may turn out differently. Often, things that we don't expect happen which ruin our plans.

- Remember your limitations, says James. "...If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

- Your life is like a mist, smoke, a breath or cloud. Here, then gone. It makes sense to remember that when dreaming up big plans for ourselves. Often we put God on the sidelines - leave Him for Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights and live for our goals, rather than living for and with Him every day.

• The problem is over-confidence and self-sufficiency. - This is the sin of presumption: when we are so sure of something that we can't actually be sure of.
  

- We have given our lives to God and so we have no right to try and grab them off Him to do what we want. We must rely on God: James says, we ought to say "If God wills" we will do this or that. In order to live this life in practice we need to:

1. Pray (James 1:5)
"If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask of God..."

2. Psalm 119:105
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path..."
-Read God's word

3. Fellowship - rather than a "I'm cool by myself, I don't need advice" attitude, we should talk to other christians about what major decisions we need to make, and what problems we're going through.

4. Sum up. Proverbs 11:14
"I am a rock, I am an island..." - Simon and Garfunkel.
-Uh-uh says James. You've got to stick around good christians to keep you on track.