Message Title: A Humble Dependence on God.
Message Truth: James rebuked the kind of heart that lives and makes its plans apart from a constant awareness of the hand of God, and with an underestimation of our own limitations
Message Text: James 4:13-17
I. The Foolishness of Presumptuous Planning (v. 13-14)
The Problem: Saying, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make a profit”. This ignores God’s role in our lives and denies His lordship over our future.
The Consequence: Such boasting is evil and the opposite of wisdom. The businessman is focused on his own profit, not God’s purpose for his life.
II. The Brevity and uncertainty of life (v. 14)
A life like a vapor: Our lives are short and easily cut short, like a mist or smoke that appears briefly and then vanishes.
The reality of uncertainty:
We cannot control future events like the weather, the economy, or our own health.
III. The right way to make plans (v. 15-16)
Acknowledge God’s will: The correct approach is to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that”.
- Submission and humility: True wisdom is found in a humble, flexible, and submissive heart posture toward God’s leadership.
- Resist arrogance: All boasting in our own strength or ability to control the future is evil.
IV. Always Do the Right Thing (v.17)
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” - Corrie ten Boom
