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Real Faith in Real Life: Perspectives on Planning for the Future

Explore the right perspective on planning for the future in light of the brevity of life and the sovereignty of God. Gain insights from James 4:13-17 and relevant scriptures.

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Real Faith in Real Life: Perspectives on Planning for the Future

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  1. If the Lord Wills “Real Life” [James] Series [21] James 4:13-17

  2. WHAT DOES “REAL FAITH” LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE? [RECAP & OVERVIEW] • 1:2-18 [1]TEST of Real Faith • Counts it all joy amidst various trials. • Seeks wisdom through prayer. • 1:19-2:26 [2] MARKS of Real Faith • 1:19-27 Acts on the Word [pure & undefiled religion] • 2:1-13 Shows no partiality [changed values] • 2:14-26 Produces works of faith [living faith]

  3. WHAT DOES “REAL FAITH” LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE? [RECAP & OVERVIEW] • 3:1-4:12 [3] EFFECTS of Real Faith • 3:1-12 Tames the tongue. • 3:13-18 Seeks wisdom from above. • 4:1-12 Cures the root causes of dissension. • 4:13-5:12 [4] PERSPECTIVES of Real Faith • 4:13-17 Perspective about life/planning • 5:1-6 Perspective about wealth/justice • 5:7-12 Perspective about trials/suffering • 5:13-20 [5] HEALING & RESTORATION of Real Faith

  4. WHAT DOES “REAL FAITH” LOOK LIKE IN REAL LIFE? [RECAP & OVERVIEW] • 3:1-4:12 [3] EFFECTS of Real Faith • 3:1-12 Tames the tongue. • 3:13-18 Seeks wisdom from above. • 4:1-12 Cures the root causes of dissension. • 4:13-5:12 [4] PERSPECTIVES of Real Faith • 4:13-17 Perspective about life/planning [TODAY] • 5:1-6 Perspective about wealth/justice • 5:7-12 Perspective about trials/suffering • 5:13-20 [5] HEALING & RESTORATION of Real Faith

  5. RIGHT PERSPECTIVE ABOUT LIFE/PLANNING • Is James against planning for future in general? The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21:5 • No. James’ point is about having a “right perspective” in planning—i.e., HOW we plan for the future. • In today’s text (4:13-17), our focus question is: “What should be our perspective in planning for the future?”

  6. WHAT SHOULD BE OUR PERSPECTIVE IN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE? 1) We must have a right perspective about LIFE. 13Come 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"— 14yet 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.  (vs.13-14) • Life is unpredictable—i.e., we don’t/can’t know the future. • Life is short—i.e., our life is a “mist” that lasts briefly. • Life is fragile—i.e., our life is vulnerable and can’t escape death nor the time of death.

  7. 15And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."  16And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17and he thought to himself,  'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?‘ 18And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' 20But God said to him,  'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'” Luke 12:15-20

  8. WHAT SHOULD BE OUR PERSPECTIVE IN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE? 1) We must have a right perspective about LIFE. 13Come 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"— 14yet 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.  (vs.13-14) • Life is unpredictable—i.e., we don’t/can’t know the future. • Life is short—i.e., our life is a “mist” that lasts briefly. • Life is fragile—i.e., our life is vulnerable and can’t escape death nor the time of death. • Therefore, having a right perspective about life involves our realization and acceptable of the brevity and frailty of our own life and future.

  9. WHAT SHOULD BE OUR PERSPECTIVE IN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE? 2) We must have a right perspective about GOD. 15Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.  (vs.15-16) • God is sovereign over our lives—i.e., God is the ONE who gives and sustains life to all of us. • God is sovereign in HIS plan, timing, and power—i.e., HIS timing and plan is perfect. • God is sovereign in HIS providence and guidance for us.

  10. Do not boast about tomorrow,    for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1 20 When they asked him to stay for a longer period, he declined. 21But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus. Acts 18:20-21

  11. WHAT SHOULD BE OUR PERSPECTIVE IN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE? 2) We must have a right perspective about GOD. 15Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.  (vs.15-16) • God is sovereign over our lives—i.e., God is the ONE who gives and sustains life to all of us. • God is sovereign in HIS plan, timing, and power—i.e., HIS timing and plan is perfect. • God is sovereign in HIS providence and guidance for us. • Therefore, having a right perspective about God involves our acknowledgment and trust in God’s sovereign will for us [D.V. = Deo Volente (Latin)—“if God (the Lord) wills”].

  12. WHAT SHOULD BE OUR PERSPECTIVE IN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE? 3) We must have a right perspective about DOING THE RIGHT THING. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (v.17) • Doing the right thing is God’s will for us. • God’s timing for the right thing to do is NOW. • To delay or avoid doing God’s will is a sin.

  13. Jesus said to them,  "If you were blind, you would have no guilt;  but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains. John 9:41 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 2 Peter 2:21 It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand. Mark Twain

  14. WHAT SHOULD BE OUR PERSPECTIVE IN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE? 3) We must have a right perspective about DOING THE RIGHT THING. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (v.17) • Doing the right thing is God’s will for us. • God’s timing for the right thing to do is NOW. • To delay or avoid doing God’s will is a sin. • Therefore, having a right perspective in doing the right thing involves our humble submission and urgent obedience to God’s will revealed to us through Scripture and the leading of the Spirit.

  15. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE • Realize and embrace THE TRUTHS ABOUT YOUR LIFE. • Realize that life is unpredictable. • Embrace that your life is short and fragile. • Acknowledge and trust IN THE TRUTHS ABOUT GOD. • Acknowledge that God is sovereign in HIS will, plan, time and power. • Trust that God is absolutely good in HIS deep love and providential grace for you. • Do what you know AS THE RIGHT THING TO DO WITHOUT DELAY. • Don’t put it off to tomorrow. • Do it with urgency and wholeheartedness.

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