http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%204:13-16&version=ESV
{Rev Charles Han}
How we view the future tells us about ourselves. For those of us who have made all these plans, those with a five year plan and are do sure of themselves. Also to those who think of the future and are anxious. This passage is for you.
This passage is not telling us that making a living is wrong; it is not saying that making plans is wrong. James is saying that we are presumptuous in thinking that we are in control of our lives. He calls it evil. What is so wrong with it? We are prideful about our own ability to chart our own lives. This is practical atheism. Planning lives with no input from God. Our lives are unpredictable, how foolish it us to presume we can plan it out all for ourselves. James calls our lives mist.
How is it that mist can control life? Presumptuous. Proverbs 16:9 "Lord Willing" is not to be a superficial phrase; it is to be a posture of the heart.
On the other side is anxiety and worry. For those who are insecure, we feel like we have too figure it all out. This too is living as if God is not in our lives. Still prideful living.
So digging further than pride, presumption, and anxiety, we can find the deeper sin. It is self-centered, self-absorbed ambition.
We want to add significance, meaning, satisfaction, and achievement. Self-centered. This is the heart of the midlife crises.
For those of us who hear this message and go out to continue making plans in an atheistic manner, God will teach you personally. God does not exist for us. We exist for His glory. God is significant and we are mist.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 The gospel saves us from the need to succeed. From the need to be significant.
To live for Christ. Humble yourself and find real life in Christ.
Additional resources
"Just do something" - Kevin DeYoung
"Unmessianic sense of non-destiny" (article)
Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8
No comments:
Post a Comment