Plan with humility, live with gusto

Plan with humility, live with gusto

James 4 and Ecclesiastes 9 January 3, 2021

I. Introduction:

A. 2020 is done and 2021 is here! With New Year’s always come new dreams and

plans!

1. I know last year moving into our 75th year as a church we had real big dreams

and plans for the next 5 years here at MVC that we were going to unveil

around Easter but Covid 19 was like dropping an atomic bomb on those

plans.

2. I know for many personally, not only Covid 19 but just everyday life apart

from Covid, impacted their personal dreams and plans for last year and they

have felt that atomic bomb dropped on those plans!

B. Today I want to share the major work that God did in my heart last year that came

out of that bomb dropped on my life!

C. God had been preparing me all year for this lesson through personal and ministry

plans blown out of the water by Covid creating a constant flux with plans and

long term rhythms of life and ministry. Add to that the loss of two very close

friends who died earlier in the year then it started to come to a head for me on

Tuesday afternoon November 10th

1. It was just four hours before the biggest board meeting of the year because

we were going to unveil the new dreams and plans for the MVC and the

leadership over the next number of years because the other plans were blown

out of the water by Covid

2. I just got off the phone and I had a mini-stroke

a) I could not even make that meeting

b) Within eighteen hours I was laying in the hospital scheduled for all kinds

of test as they were concerned I may be on the way to a major stroke.

3. As you might imagine my plans for that day were totally different than what

was in my schedule book and heart!

a) On top of that, not knowing what was going to happen to me, many of

my future dreams, hopes and plans with my wife, children and church all

now became very uncertain to me.

4. By God’s grace I was released on Thursday with an all clear but keep an eye

on your physical health and stress levels!

5. But that Saturday morning I found out that both Jeff Schmidt and Jim

Higgins, both friends of mine, had died the night before.

a) Something broke within me – the jabs throughout the year, the punch

that staggered me with a ministroke just 4 days before and the knockout

punch came when I read that email.

• Something happened in my heart at that moment and God led me instantly to the

passage I want to share with you this morning as we move into 2021 with our new

dreams and plans. turn to …

II. James 4

A. Listen to what God spoke to me through His Word that morning. Read 4:13-16

B. V13 are the big plans we have – the church had them, you had them and I had

them and we have new ones as we move into 2021. Plans both for today and for

the future – read v13

C. But what I did not know that Tuesday morning when I woke up all excited have

MVC plans shared that night with the leadership, and what you do not know is

what v14 says. Read

D. Then in v15 is the wisdom and the attitude that we all need to carry both in our

dreams hopes and plans both for today and the future. Read v15

1. First, if God wills – you will be alive this afternoon or tomorrow

a) That Tuesday afternoon with a major stroke possibly looming as I laid in

bed in the hospital I did not even know if I would be alive tomorrow!

2. Secondly, if God wills – you will do what you are planning.

a) So many things can enter into our lives that are beyond our control that

makes our plans uncertain both later today, tomorrow and in the future.

b) Listen to Proverbs 16:9 NASB & NLT.

E. The lesson of this passage for us is this – the great trump card on our life and

plans is God’s will!

1. So I need to plan with humility recognizing that ultimately my plans are not

determined by my will but God’s will

• But to balance out Scripture with Scripture and complete the heart shaping God was

doing in me we need not only plan with humility but we must …

III. Live life with gusto

A. Turn to Ecclesiastes 9 is a wisdom book where the second half of the book is

dominated by the reality that we are going to die! But he does not present that as

a morbid thing but as a reality to know so we can live wisely in light of it.

B. At the start of the chapter he says two very important things that sounds a lot like

James 4

1. V1 the future is unknown and uncertain whether our life will have adversity

or prosperity

2. Then in v2-6 he talks about the certainty of death for everyone with the loss

of participation in this life.

3. And by the way this is not just a message for old people – listen to v12

C. Now listen to the advice he gives us in light of these facts! Advice that I would

never expect from the wisest man who ever lived outside of Jesus.

1. Read v7 – bottom line he is saying here enjoy the simple everyday things

God has given us!

2. Read v8 – clean clothes and oils were used in that culture on festive

occasions. Thus he is saying celebrate every day you have to live. Brothers

and sisters every day we are alive including today is a special gift from God!

3. Read v9 – enjoy life with your mate – this is one of the great gifts that God

has given to us in life. Do not waste it because you do not know how long

you will have this gift!

4. Read v10 – whatever you do, that goes all the way from work to play and

everything in between them, do it with all your heart and strength! Because

once you die, at least here on earth that opportunity will be gone!

D. So guess what is happening to Pat Peglow in these days. I am planning more

humbly and seeking to live with more gusto as I am examining my life, my plans,

my schedule, my habits, the care of my physical body and management of stress

with a special emphasis on the things Solomon says here as I am seeking to enjoy

life more, live it more passionately with a special emphasis of doing those with

the greatest gift has given me outside of Jesus – Kimberly Jean – some of you

know as “baby girl”

• So plan humbly, live with gusto! What do we …

IV. Do with all this (communion)

A. As you start 2021 with Jesus in communion I want to encourage you to consider

three things

1. In light of James 4 - ? what does the way you talk about your plans and the

way you respond to events and people that interrupt your plans reveal about

your heart and your attitude about your plans verses God’s will for your life?

2. In light of Ecclesiastes 9 –

a) How are your joy levels? As believers we should be the most joy filled

people in the world! If we are not something is out of alignment with

our relationship with the Lord as He is the one who fills our heart with

his joy!

b) Finally, how well do your plans line up with the wisdom we learn in

Ecclesiastes about how to live life in light of the uncertainties of life and

the certainty of death?

B. If you do not know Jesus the most important take away from this message is that

you have no guarantee that you will be alive tomorrow or even this afternoon.

1. Scripture says today is the day of salvation, do not put it off!

2. If you do not know Jesus turn to Him this morning and acknowledge that you

are separated from him because of your sin and that you are transferring your

trust right now to what Jesus did on the cross to you to pay for your sins and

the new life He offers you through His resurrection!

3. If you are here today or following on line I would be honored if you would

contact me personally through the church and I will be glad to speak to you

about how to come to know Jesus personally!

C. Pass and pray