Is This Your Life?

APRIL 22, 2020 STUDY NOTES JAMES 4:13-14 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES IS THIS YOUR LIFE? INTRODUCTION: Back in the 50’s, Ralph Edwards hosted a TV show titled “This Is Your Life” Today the question from James 4:13-14 is, “Is This Your Life?” Before the days of Coronavirus, my question was, have you ever seen a day like this in America? Now the answer is simple, we have never seen a day in America like we are now seeing There are many more questions to be answered from this time of crisis Will there be changes in the daily lifestyle of Americans after the present pandemic? Will there be a spiritual awakening in America, or will America continue to disregard God? Before coronavirus we were living in a self-sufficient society that wanted to live in total disregard of God Many people are now turning to government control instead of God’s guidance and wisdom Before coronavirus, communication, travel, buying and selling was moving at the fastest pace ever But that which was moving faster than anything else was a nation turning from God Modern society was teaching that man is the “Master of his own life” and God is not that important Will the coronavirus pandemic change man’s thoughts about self and God? James has a message for our world today, but don’t be surprised at who the message is written too James is not writing to those who deny God, he writes to those who know God He is writing to those who know what they should say and do, he sums it up in, Jas 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. “The Good Lord Willing” is often stated by the Christian, but how meaningful is it to them? It should be the sincere desire of the heart for a Christian, Psa 40:8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. We must learn the will of God for our life before it becomes a heart-felt truth, Psa 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. By the “Grace of God” we can receive a righteous life, Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, By the grace of God, we can live a righteous life, Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Every day of our life is to be lived in the “Will of God,” 1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. Our desire should be the same as that of Jesus, Joh 6:38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. There was nothing more important to Jesus than the “Father’s Will” The evidence of that is found in His Garden of Gethsemane prayer as he faced the cross, Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” is not only to be a hymn we sing, but the life that we live, Eph 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; People continually make plans for their daily life They plan for today, tomorrow, and for the future, but how many are planning for eternity? James is telling us not to plan “without God,” our plans should always be, “If the Lord Wills” Jas 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Go to now, means “to listen up,” “now look here” “you better get this” He is speaking to those who are “saying,” those who are in the habit of “saying” James strongly disagrees with what they are “saying” It is urgent that they hear what James has to say about what they are “saying” Today is the day for America to hear what James has to “say” What would James have to say to us about the average daily communication of our day? The same thing he says to those of his day ye that say, The things they normally talk about, a typical day of talking, the character of a day’s conversation Their talk is the result of careful planning, they think they have covered every detail in their plans Their plans are presented as being totally under “their control,” leaving God out of their plans Planning for the future was not their sin, planning without God was their sin Their sin was planning without asking for God’s guidance or wisdom, failing to seek God’s will They talked and planned as if God was unconcerned about what they had to say or do God is interested in His children, He cares about us every moment of our life Too often people think that the only time God is watching us is when we sin against Him James is telling us that it is sin to say or do anything without being in submission to God’s will We sin when our plans are “I will” instead of God’s will” God always has a plan for our day, don’t leave Him out of your plans for today or tomorrow Today or tomorrow “Today or tomorrow” indicates that they are planning for today and for the future Today and tomorrow is planned around their personal desires for life They have worked out their own life, they have settled all the details They have selected the time and the places that suited them The American way of today is "doing our own thing," the pride of self confidence Many believe that they have it all under control, that they are in control of their own destiny They represent those who are trying to live independent of God’s will Which is not the correct Christian way, we are to do it God’s way Christians should not have an earthly view of life we must have an eternal view of today and tomorrow Our decisions for today must not only consider life tomorrow, but also life throughout eternity We do not know the when, where, how long, or the result of today or tomorrow We must seek God’s Will because He can fulfill the plans of today, tomorrow, and for eternity, Luk 12:28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? We can trust God who grows the grain today that will be cooked in the oven tomorrow God is the only one who knows for sure who will grow the grain today and cook it tomorrow we will go into such a city, “We will go” indicates that they selected the location that suited them Their choice comes from the attitude of self-sufficiency, independence, and worldliness They put together a predetermined path and their plans are not limited to one city Their thought is, there will be one city today and another city tomorrow They have big plans for today and every day in the future and continue there a year, “They” determined the length of their stay, “they” have all-of the details worked out “They” have planned all-of the different steps, thinking that time is in their hands, under their control and buy and sell, They will do their trading in a way that would be suitable to them Business will be carried on as planned, all according to their personal pleasure Personal pleasure, the love of self, and the love of money will be the motive of their plans Paul said that will be man’s path of life in the last days, 2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. “Perilous times” are difficult times for the Christian, difficult because people will be difficult, 2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Their plans will be for self because of their love for self, without natural concern for others, 2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Love for self and self-pleasure will determine their decisions for today and tomorrow, 2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; They will put on a good show wanting others to think they have made Godly decisions, 2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Their desire is not to be a witness for God, their desire is personal attention through personal gain and get gain: The goal of all the planning is gain, gain is what they had in mind from the beginning “Gain” is why they have made their plans, why they go where they are going “Gain” is why they stay in the places they do and do the things they do James does not condemn planning to make a profit from the plans of our life The business of tomorrow is the business that made a profit today, gain is a must for business The sin is selfish planning for selfish gain with no intention of serving God James presents the problem with their planning--Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. They were guilty of taking the future into their own hands James says, “You say,” (vs. 13) but you know not (vs. 14) Scripture speaks to that very truth, Pro 27:1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Daily life is a mystery without the leadership of God, it is a threatening experience We have no knowledge of tomorrow you don’t know the least thing about tomorrow We are unacquainted with the next minute of our life So, James has a good question for us For what is your life? One of the most important questions that could be asked God’s Word not only gives us the answer, it paints a picture for us It is like a shadow, Job 8:9 (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) We know about history from experience, but we have not experienced tomorrow yet There is one thing we know about tomorrow, it will have its problems, Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble; The future of life upon earth is like a shadow, it does not remain, Job 14:2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Man’s days are like a breath of air, Job 7:7 O remember that my life is wind: (like a breath of air) mine eye shall no more see good. Psa 144:4 Man is like to vanity: (like a mere breathe) his days are as a shadow that passeth away. Job said that at death he would vanish like a cloud, Job 7:9 As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more. (And will not return to this present life) The days of man resemble grass Psa 103:15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. Regardless of how healthy a life might be today, it is still perishing like grass, 1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (The beautiful bluebonnets of today will soon be gone) Human life is soon windblown and withered, Psa 103:16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. All-of those verses bring us to another important question, what are your plans for life? What kind of a life are you planning on living today? What are the plans for your life tomorrow? According to God’s Word you don’t even know if you will be alive tomorrow And if you are alive, you don’t know what will happen in your life tomorrow We have all learned that the unknowns of tomorrow can be a life changing experience And another question, after all is said-and done, what will others have to say about your life? James is calling our attention to all-of those questions and even many more concerning our earthly life James wants us to consider the value of our earthly life in comparison to our eternal life It is even a vapor, Human life is like “a mist,” like a puff of smoke, like steam rising from hot water Like the breath coming from the nose or mouth on a cold morning It is like that which appears for a brief period and then disappears Scripture uses many different figures that agree with what James said, 4 are found in, Hos 13:3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. Life is like a morning cloud of mist that vanishes with the rising of the sun Like the early dew that evaporates as daytime comes forth Life is like the wind driven chaff, chaff pictures how useless and worthless a life can be Like the smoke that comes from the chimney and quickly disappears Just like James says, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Job and his friends spoke of how brief life upon this earth is in comparison to eternity Their points speak to the fact that we must trust our daily life to God or there is no hope, Job 7:6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and are spent without hope. Job admitted the fact of two things, the brevity of life and the evil of life, Job 9:25 Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. Moses spoke of the life-span of man this way, Psa 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. So, the normal life span is 70 years, but for those of an unusually strong constitution, it can be 80 Is this verse telling us that 70 years of age and especially 80 is a long time to live? Or is it telling us that even 80 years of age is not a long-life span? We have-to look to the context of the Psalms to find our answer A comparison is being made between the Eternal God and the frailty of man The point of the verse is life upon this earth is brief, exactly-the same thing James is telling us The life that can be seen today may completely disappear-from sight tomorrow And all that a greedy earthly life has worked for will be gone (Read Luke 12:13-21) The parable of the rich fool teaches us that the value of life is not in our worldly possessions When you read the passage watch for I, my, and thine The attitude of the rich fool was, life is in my hands, I have it made, I have everything I want And if I want more, I will just build more barns to store all that I will gain Jesus said he was a fool to say what he said, Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. James is telling us to listen to what God said, Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? James is going to close chapter 4 with the same conclusion that Jesus gave in the parable, Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. CONCLUSION James clearly reveals to us that the immediate future is uncertain, we must place it in God’s hand We have no promise of earthly life tomorrow Satan uses that same truth, that life is short, he uses it to deceive the thinking of man He leads man to think that he must “go for it,” grab all the gusto he can while he can So, the brief span of life becomes an excuse for a life of sin Satan says, you only live once, so you better live it up today, you may not get another chance But according to James, that is not what you say, Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. There are many important things to learn from what James has told us We must realize how important today is and how important it is to trust God for today We must appreciate our present blessings and use them as a blessing unto others We must commit ourselves to fulfill our daily duties and obey God’s will for our daily life Every day must count for Christ, never make plans without planning for God to guide you Beware of an Atheistic attitude, I can do this without God’s help Write all-of your plans for today and tomorrow with a pencil and allow God to use His eraser The real tragedy of life is not how short it is, but how much of it we waste Remember, there are no “time outs,” or “instant replays” during our day Realize that we don’t have time to do everything we want to do today But God will give us time to do what He wants us to do today and tomorrow Don’t miss today’s opportunities because you are worried about tomorrow’s uncertainties Listen to Jesus, Joh 9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. Even Jesus had an allotted time period to do the Father’s will Today is the day to obey God’s will for your life “I don’t have time” is not a legitimate excuse, you have the same amount of time every day The truth is you may not have your priorities in order Keep in mind an old saying, “Only one life, twill soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last” Earthly life is uncertain, eternal life is certain, that is why Jesus died on Calvary That is why we must serve Jesus today, listen to the song and make it your prayer today “I Will Serve Thee”