The Book of James: Facing Your Future
James 4:13–17 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. (NIV)
Three Attitudes That Honor God as You Face the Future
1. Don’t Leave God Out of Your Plans.
James 4:15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (NIV)
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (NIV).
Proverbs 16:9 “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” (NIV)
2. Don’t Take Tomorrow for Granted.
James 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (NIV)
James 4:16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. (NIV)
Two Reminders That Produce Humility, Not Fear
1. Life is unpredictable.
2. Life is brief.
Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (NIV)
Proverbs 27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. (NIV)
· Live faithfully one day at a time.
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIV)
Psalm 31:15 “My future is in your hands.” (NLT)
3. Don’t Delay What God Is Calling You to Do.
James 4:17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them. (NIV)
Proverbs 3:27-28 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you” —when you already have it with you. (NIV)
Luke 12:16-20 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’” (NIV)
2 Corinthians 6:2b Now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. (NIV)