Walk This Way:Trust God for Tomorrow (James 4:11-17) Billy Russell 11/18/18

Walk This Way
“Trust God for Your Tomorrow”
(James 4:11-17)

“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.” 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. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)

James teaches us that faith is belief in action. Living by faith means protecting the reputations of other believers (by enforcing a no-slander zone), and trusting God for tomorrow (by employing a no-boasting zone). How will you honor others by guarding your words about them? How will you acknowledge and honor God’s sovereign role in your life?

• Enforce a no-slander zone (4:11-12)- Protect the reputation of others.
  • Honor people with your words.
  • You are not the judge of others.
  • You are to guard your heart and words carefully.
  • Remember: Our responsibility is to love, not judge our neighbor.

 

• Employ a no-boasting zone (4:13-17)- Trust God for your tomorrow!
  • James says do the right thing in the right way at the right time.
  • Refuse to live as a practical atheist: living like their is no God in your
    everyday life experiences and decisions.
  • Check yourself: guard against the arrogance of demi-godhood.
    “Life is too short to do anything less than God’s will.” (-T B Maston)
  • Live like God can be trusted. Live by faith in His providential care.
  • Determine to acknowledge God’s providential watch-care and
    submit to His authority and will. This is the “right thing to do” (v.17).