James 4:13-17
Notes
Transcript
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ME
Illus.: Talk about how weird it has been over the last few months in some many facets of life. Church, work, school, shopping, online orders. I order something over a month ago that is just now arriving. My college self would laugh at me, but by todays standards that’s a long time.
WE
If anything have become aware of during this is control.
Control.
This is a struggle for most us, isn’t it? If we are wanting to be in control, we are wanting to not be controlled.
Tonight as find our way to the end of James 4, we find ourselves right in the middle of this very topic.
The Picture of Control Issues
The Picture of Control Issues
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—
James paints a vivid picture of what it looks like to have control issues. It is if he has gotten into the head of those of us who struggle with control. There are two things that he says here that are true of everyone who has control issues...
(1) They always want to tell others what to do.
(1) They always want to tell others what to do.
Look back at v. 13 - Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go...
Did you notice that the person with control issues quoted here doesn’t use the word “I”? Instead, he uses the word “we.” This is what a person who has to be in control does. They constantly are speaking for others and telling them what to do.
Illus.: Talk about the job that I had in college at the shoe store. The assistant manager that came in and began to make sweeping changes and the chill manager just went along with whatever the assistant manager said. The dude was a taskmaster and had to be in control.
Does this describe someone you know?
Does this describe you?
[No need to give a thumbs up on this one.]
If so, know that this need for control does not have to control you or those around you.
(2) They always have to control the outcome.
(2) They always have to control the outcome.
Notice the last part of v. 13 - we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit
The person here is pretty confident that they are going to profit. The predominant way to make money in this time was trade. It was risky, but the chance of making money was much higher than being a farmer, so many chose this path. The problem here is that this person just knew that they would make money. No doubt.
Illus.: I have a little money in an investment account that I have tried to stow away for our future. I am putting money in that account with hopes of making money, but there is not guarantee. The last few months have proven that no one can predict the future.
The person with control issues feels a need and even an ability to control the outcome of every situation they find themselves in. We will learn more about this in a minute, but we know that this is impossible. Yet, many of us try to do it all the same.
Illus.: Talk about when our kids were young we would put all kinds of things in their lives to keep them safe. Things like child proofing our house, etc. Yet, we still had regular runs to the ER. Why? WE can control the future or the outcome of every situation.
Does this describe someone you know?
Does this describe you?
[No need to give a thumbs up on this one.]
If so, know that this need for control does not have to control you or those around you.
The Pitfalls Of Control Issues
The Pitfalls Of Control Issues
yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
James shares with us a couple of pitfalls for those of us who always have to be in control. These pitfalls are sobering and even scarier if we ignore them. Let’s take a look...
(1) Life Is Uncertain.
(1) Life Is Uncertain.
Look back at v. 14 - yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.
The truth is that not one of us has a clue what tomorrow will bring. We may have a plan what we want to do or where we would like to go, but not a clue what will actually take place.
Illus.: Tell the story of Julie I going out on Saturday only to lock the keys in the car. Tell the resolution. There is no way we would have seen that coming.
Yet, many of us fight against this through anger or planning things down the detail.
Instead, we should embrace the uncertainty of life.
Illus.: Talk about Julie getting delayed from work one day just to miss a very bad accident and how I was huffy wondering why she wasn’t home already.
Folks, life is uncertain. Instead of pushing against that fact, we need to embrace it and look for how God will redirect our paths through it all.
(2) Life Is Short.
(2) Life Is Short.
Look back at v. 14 - What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
What an illustration of our lives.
Illus.: Talk about getting up early each morning and sitting on the back porch before it gets too hot. Many morning I will look over the pasture behind me and see a light and sometimes a heavy fog. Often as I read my Bible and study I will look up to see that fog gone with the rising of the sun.
Life is short just like the lifespan of a vapor, mist or fog.
Just as we fight life’s uncertainty, we fight its brevity.
Illus.: Talk about sitting outside the make up store at Bridge Street and see the ads for all the anti-aging stuff.
We can try to control it, the fact remains that we are here for a moment.
It is not about how long we stay, but what we do while we are here.
The Solution For Control Issues
The Solution For Control Issues
Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James gives us a couple of simple, yet powerful, insights on how we deal with our own control issues. Because the truth is we all deal with control issues. Even if we are trying to control those who are trying to control us. Here are his insights...
(1) Surrender to God’s Plan For Your Life
(1) Surrender to God’s Plan For Your Life
Look back at v. 15 - Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Notice, the phrase - If the Lord wills
This is the key to dealing with control issues. You’ve got to put God’s plans above your plans.
Illus.: I am a goal-oriented person. Its my nature to make plans. There are pitfalls to being like me. I can come up with a plan and get ahead of what God wants or go in a different direction.
Here’s the thing about God’s plan for you. It is more than a plan, it is a vision.
Illus.: God has given us a vision at Piney Grove to be a church of people who meet God, meet friends and meet needs. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t change that vision. He changed how we fulfilled it, but it didn’t change the vision.
As God’s people we should live for a vision more than projects, programs or people. Until we understand God’s vision for our lives, we will just fight Him.
(2) Stick to God’s Plan For Your Life
(2) Stick to God’s Plan For Your Life
As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James points out our tendency to gravitate back to our plans for our lives, decisions and schedules. Once God has given a vision stick to it.
Illus.: During the lat few months I have heard it said that many want things just to get back to normal. Do you really? Do you want what life was like before or do you want something better?
I believe that God has possible interrupted our lives so we can stop trying to work our plans and start surrendering to his.
So, what now?
So, what now?
Here what I want to challenge you to do...
1. WRITE DOWN MATTHEW 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
2. COMMIT IT TO MEMORY
3. RECALL IT WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF STRUGGLING WITH CONTROL
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