Text: James 4:13-16
By: Sunny Ogumor
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Introduction:
How do you view “Life Without God” from your own perspective?
Miserable, meaningless, wayward, etc.
Like a Child without a father.
Making plans in life is very important, but when God is not recognized in your plan then it looks not achievable. Omitting God in your plan is not the right thing.
This passage is teaching us how to and how not make our plans for life. 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: Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. Jas 4:16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
How some people fail to include God in their plan.
- By Failing To Obey The Gospel: some people are very adamant about the gospel, some closed their ears to the word of God. Some like Felix who did not have God in his plan postponed God’s word to convenient time which did not come. Act 24:25. When we postpone ourselves from the assembly of the saints together, we have no plan for God on that day. It is not easy to go 100% but check your heart where is your position.
- By Letting Things Of The World Crowd Out God From Your Plan: Too busy with yourself and business. When the Sower sowed his seeds, those seeds which fell among thorns were choked with the cares and riches and pleasure of life and they bear no fruits. Lk 8:14.
How do I omit God in my plan?
Failure to realize the unpredictable nature of life; we don’t know what tomorrow may bring, but if we put God in our plan; we ask him to bring good things for us tomorrow. In Lk 12:16-20 the rich man did not put God in his plan to rebuild his barn to a bigger one and enjoy himself after.
Failure to recognize the shortness of life: life is too short to be selfish. It is like a vapor. Draw near to God so that your days may be long on earth. Prov. 3:1-2. My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Failure to recognize that God controls the future: man proposes but God disposes. If the lord will, we shall live and do. Psm 127:1 Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
From experience people do advise others so that they do the right thing and live well. Solomon, he was a godly man. From his experience what he did here in telling us that vanity upon vanity all is vanity. Eccl 1:2 he said all earthly good to be “vanity and vexation of spirit.” It convinces us of the vanity of the world, and that it cannot make us happy created good cannot satisfy the soul, only the word of God. This doctrine must be taught from time to time because when lead by the spirit it’s the only way to lead the heart to Christ Jesus.
“Go to now,” (now listen) is a call to anyone to consider his/her conduct as being wrong. How bad and worldly it is if we leave God out of our plans. How vain it is to look for anything good without God’s blessing and guidance. The “time” we think we have is not in our own hands, but at the disposal of God. We are always to depend on the will of God to use the time. Our heads may be filled with plans of what to do next, but God’s time often throws our plans into confusion. All we design, and all we do, should be with submissive depend on God. That is the more reason we need to commit the day to His hand every morning before leaving the house. Be careful do not omit prayer. It is foolish, and it could be painful, to boast of worldly things properties, protections etc., at the end it is great disappointment.
What type of life was in Sodom and Gomorrah? With God or without God. Now in towns street conners there are Sodom and Gomorrah hotels and clubs. The operators and the clients what are they?
Examine yourself whether you still in the faith, if you have stepped into the world, please retrieve your steps and come back to the Lord.
Let us always look to God’s providence. In all the affairs and business of a family we must depend upon his blessing.
- For raising a family, if God be not acknowledged, we have no reason to expect his blessing, the best plans fails unless he crowns them with success.
- For the safety of a family or a city. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen, though they did not sleep, they’re not sleeping is in vain because problem may still break out.
- For provide for the family, some are very serious to do anything in the world and so putting their own life and the life of others in danger. All this is to get money but if it, happen they are constantly in bondage because they owe allegiance to something else. Those who love the Lord, using due diligence in their lawful duties and casting all their care upon him have peaceful success. Even if it is small.
Boasting in your own way betrays the sinful nature: Do not take glory for your possessions, do not give glory to your deities, neither glory to your wisdom for your success. In all things glorify God. 1Cor. 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. Also Jer 9:23.
Let this mind be in us that I must obey God so that we too can be commended as Paul commended the Philippians and advised them further. Phil 2:12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. We may commit sin unknowingly hence we need to say God forgive us any where we sin against thee. LK 12:47-48.
Gal 5:19-21 works of the flesh keeps you away from God, if you are found in one you are living a life without God.
Conclusion
What are your plans for the future, are you ignoring God? Lk 12:20. Are you obeying God? Php 2:12.
Life without Christ is in crisis.
Be faithful to God.
Commit all your activities to God that He will bless you.
Prayers not answered immediately will be answered in due course at God’s own time.
May the Good Lord add blessings to His words in Jesus Name, Amen.
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