WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:01.120 Good morning. 00:00:01.460 --> 00:00:01.800 You got a Bible? 00:00:02.320 --> 00:00:03.420 Open up the book of James. 00:00:03.660 --> 00:00:05.040 We're in chapter four together. 00:00:05.040 --> 00:00:07.660 We're going to pick up in verse 13. 00:00:08.980 --> 00:00:12.030 We are studying through the book of James on the series called Be Bold. 00:00:12.280 --> 00:00:18.200 James is really all about maturity in Christ, standing for your faith, being bold, and walking for the Lord in this world. 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:21.300 He wrote his book to the Jewish Christians. 00:00:21.300 --> 00:00:24.560 Those that were Jews that came to know Jesus put their faith in Christ. 00:00:24.740 --> 00:00:27.670 He refers to that in the opening chapters as the diaspora. 00:00:28.580 --> 00:00:35.960 The Book of James is commonly referred to as the Book of Proverbs for the New Testament, sometimes because James quotes the Proverbs, but mainly because James 00:00:35.960 --> 00:00:41.260 uses these the Book of James to make emphatic statements on the Christian life. 00:00:41.260 --> 00:00:43.150 This is what it looks like to follow Christ. 00:00:43.900 --> 00:00:45.180 So in your life, examine. 00:00:45.340 --> 00:00:48.820 Determine if you're growing in maturity, in your walk with the Lord. 00:00:49.020 --> 00:00:52.240 And together we've studied several topics that James has. 00:00:52.460 --> 00:00:55.650 James has discussed when he when he talks about the maturity of the believer. 00:00:56.200 --> 00:01:03.560 If anyone should know what it means to walk with Christ in maturity with him, I think James's life gives testimony to us of an individual 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:09.280 who really stood for the truth that was in Christ, to the point that he even lost his life. 00:01:09.340 --> 00:01:11.800 James was a martyr for the Lord. 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:19.560 One of the things you'll never know when you read about the Book of James is that while James refers to himself as a bond servant, a willing slave of Christ, 00:01:19.740 --> 00:01:23.000 he never refers to himself as also the half brother of Jesus. 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:30.840 James was a skeptic during the life of Christ, so much so that at the end of Jesus's life, he encourages Christ to go and make his 00:01:30.840 --> 00:01:38.270 ministry known in Jerusalem, because James and along with his other siblings couldn't stand being 00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:45.460 around Jesus and knew that ultimately and sending him to Jerusalem, it would it would bring about some some heartache for 00:01:45.460 --> 00:01:52.700 Christ, maybe even encourage him to stop doing what he was doing a couple of times within the Bible, it tells us that his family goes, goes and looks 00:01:52.940 --> 00:01:57.720 for Jesus to stop him from his ministry because they had considered him mad. 00:01:59.320 --> 00:01:59.820 James. 00:01:59.820 --> 00:01:59.940 The. 00:01:59.940 --> 00:02:03.980 The Bible tells us by the time of Jesus's crucifixion and resurrection. 00:02:03.980 --> 00:02:11.260 In acts chapter one, you read that James and the family of Jesus is in the upper room with the saints praying as the coming of the Holy Spirit 00:02:11.260 --> 00:02:14.960 takes place at the resurrection of Christ. 00:02:14.980 --> 00:02:22.660 We know that Jesus's family had definitely put their faith in him as Lord and Savior. 00:02:24.000 --> 00:02:31.080 James becomes the leader of the early church and gives his life for following after Christ, and he writes to the Jewish Christians of the 00:02:31.080 --> 00:02:31.480 time. 00:02:31.480 --> 00:02:38.580 This is the first book of the New Testament recorded for us, and he writes for them how to stand and grow in maturity in Christ. 00:02:39.620 --> 00:02:42.740 He talks about trials and temptations that we'll all go through. 00:02:42.740 --> 00:02:49.260 He shares the need to love widows and orphans, knowing that they may not be able to give anything in return, but out of love for Christ. 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:54.540 We love them just as Jesus loved us, not expecting anything in return. 00:02:54.780 --> 00:03:01.240 The Bible tells us that in our sin that God demonstrates his love towards us in Romans five eight. 00:03:02.620 --> 00:03:09.620 James goes on and says in chapter two, the way that you treat the wealthy and the poor, if you differentiate between those two, you aren't bearing the maturity of Christ, 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:12.400 because God has created all of us in his image. 00:03:12.440 --> 00:03:16.500 And to the end of chapter two, he tells us faith without works is dead. 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:20.760 Meaning, if Jesus comes to your life, what Jesus brings in your life is a heart change. 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:25.160 And as Jesus transforms your heart, Jesus transforms your life. 00:03:26.500 --> 00:03:33.500 And the indication that we have on the external part of the life and of individual, of whether or not they put their faith in Jesus as if their life demonstrates one 00:03:33.500 --> 00:03:36.160 that displays Christ in their living. 00:03:38.200 --> 00:03:43.450 Meaning if we don't see Jesus on the outside as Jesus really made the transformation on the inside. 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:47.240 James then goes on and talks about the maturity of the believer. 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:54.680 From there he shares about the tongue and he talks some about your prayer life as a way of examining how we 00:03:54.680 --> 00:03:56.360 are growing in him. 00:03:57.800 --> 00:04:00.560 Greg Laurie says this as it regards with maturity. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:04.540 It says those that think about the next life do the most in this life. 00:04:05.820 --> 00:04:09.280 We saw last week there's a battle that takes place in the life of the believer. 00:04:09.380 --> 00:04:13.400 There's this old nature and new nature making war with one another. 00:04:13.400 --> 00:04:18.880 And what God desires for us is to follow him in the spirit, rather than living for the world in the flesh. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:27.060 And it's when our identity is shaped in Christ, and our longing belongs to him that we look towards living for him, as James refers to 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:29.700 himself as bond, servant, willing, slave. 00:04:29.700 --> 00:04:31.880 So we become one for God's glory as well. 00:04:33.160 --> 00:04:38.760 And those I think most of the next life make much of this life. 00:04:40.780 --> 00:04:48.090 As James continues the discussion on the maturity of the believer, he then talks about for us at the end of chapter four, 00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:55.620 this idea of planning all of us in our lives are in different places and positions when it comes to our relationship with God. 00:04:56.700 --> 00:05:03.980 All of us make plans for life, for things that are important and impactful in the course of the life that we live. 00:05:05.320 --> 00:05:12.500 You plan around the areas of your life that you would consider big when it comes to where you might receive your education, or college 00:05:12.500 --> 00:05:19.660 or career, or retiring, or child rearing or buying things, or moving up the corporate ladder, or just moving in general, doing things 00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:22.280 for your future, all of your hopes and dreams. 00:05:22.460 --> 00:05:25.990 You make plans according to those things because they are important. 00:05:27.560 --> 00:05:34.620 But what James Marks in chapter four is to examine within our lives is there maturity displayed in our walk with God as we make 00:05:34.620 --> 00:05:37.540 those plans in light of who he is? 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:47.020 As James talks about the planning of a believer and the maturity of a believer, he identifies his illustration 00:05:47.080 --> 00:05:50.420 with the life of one who has a career. 00:05:52.320 --> 00:05:52.740 Many times. 00:05:53.080 --> 00:06:00.020 For those of us who establish careers in this world, we dictate our value and purpose and meaning off of that career. 00:06:00.020 --> 00:06:03.320 And so in light of that, we live for the career itself. 00:06:05.060 --> 00:06:10.240 When James gets to James chapter four and verse 14, this is what he says to us. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:17.240 And starting in verse 13, now listen, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:20.350 business and make money y y y. 00:06:20.620 --> 00:06:23.070 You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. 00:06:23.540 --> 00:06:24.560 What is your life? 00:06:25.200 --> 00:06:29.380 You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes as it is. 00:06:29.380 --> 00:06:31.040 You boast in your arrogant schemes. 00:06:31.620 --> 00:06:32.920 All such boasting is evil. 00:06:33.700 --> 00:06:40.200 If anyone then knows the good they ought to do and does not do it is sin for them. 00:06:42.720 --> 00:06:49.780 This type of individual that James describes is maybe one by worldly standards that we would say is an individual that leads a good life. 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:54.400 I mean, you think of the planning that's taking place in verse 13 and 14. 00:06:54.460 --> 00:06:56.490 This is this is a guy that's got his head on straight. 00:06:57.140 --> 00:06:59.800 At least he's thinking about providing, right. 00:07:00.760 --> 00:07:07.820 And maybe as a society, we would look at him and say, this guy's got got a good life because he's successful, he's got a career, he's got 00:07:07.820 --> 00:07:11.360 a steady income, he's got his needs met. 00:07:13.240 --> 00:07:14.620 And then James says no. 00:07:17.840 --> 00:07:24.200 This guy's doing, but he's forgot the very reason as to why things are getting done in his life. 00:07:25.880 --> 00:07:27.440 He's doing without purpose. 00:07:29.740 --> 00:07:33.520 James point to us in verse 14, is this a career? 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:39.140 Is not a get a better guarantee of a better tomorrow, a career. 00:07:39.140 --> 00:07:42.840 Let me say that again, is not a guarantee of a better tomorrow. 00:07:44.640 --> 00:07:46.940 Maybe an abrupt way he would say it like this to us. 00:07:47.020 --> 00:07:47.060 What? 00:07:47.260 --> 00:07:47.860 What are you doing? 00:07:48.100 --> 00:07:50.300 Planning careers without God? 00:07:51.320 --> 00:07:56.360 Maybe he would stop and say, this is the examination point for us as believers. 00:07:56.440 --> 00:08:01.850 Here's how you know if God is in control, as if you let him have control. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:10.500 There's no distinction in our life between that which is secular and that which is sacred. 00:08:10.520 --> 00:08:14.000 It's all sacred because it's all created by God. 00:08:14.880 --> 00:08:21.720 And just as we give God Sunday, so God is to have Monday through Friday in your 9 to 5. 00:08:24.060 --> 00:08:25.880 The maturity of a believer is marked this way. 00:08:28.080 --> 00:08:35.360 That even outside of church on Sunday, when it comes to planning the course of your life, you always pause for an intervention with 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:35.659 God. 00:08:37.980 --> 00:08:44.570 Saying, God, as I make these plans, are you in control? 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:48.940 Lord, is this what you desire? 00:08:50.660 --> 00:08:54.640 Yes, we can look at this verse and say, at least this man is providing for his family. 00:08:54.820 --> 00:09:01.280 But the idea of James chapter four is this that we keep Christ at the center of everything that we do. 00:09:03.140 --> 00:09:06.680 Do you know it's possible within our lives to live good, but not live godly. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:10.560 And the Life of James chapter four. 00:09:10.560 --> 00:09:15.320 This individual that James is describing as a man who lives good but not godly. 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:23.710 When you get to chapter five, James goes a step further and he explains to us what it looks like as a as an individual. 00:09:23.860 --> 00:09:26.860 And a career moves further and further away from God. 00:09:28.400 --> 00:09:32.510 Because when God doesn't have control, the one who sets up on the throne as me. 00:09:32.780 --> 00:09:38.880 And then when I plan my life, I plan my life according to my own desires, not for the purpose of which God has created me. 00:09:40.900 --> 00:09:41.680 Goodness isn't godliness. 00:09:43.660 --> 00:09:44.570 A couple of weeks ago. 00:09:44.640 --> 00:09:47.260 We talked about the use of the tongue. 00:09:48.740 --> 00:09:55.920 And we distinguish the difference between when we use the tongue for good and for bad meaning this that James, when he when he talks about using 00:09:55.920 --> 00:10:01.320 the tongue, he warns us against using it for negative ways that God didn't create it for. 00:10:01.320 --> 00:10:06.900 But just because you don't say bad things doesn't mean you're using your tongue for godly reasons. 00:10:09.160 --> 00:10:09.620 Religions. 00:10:09.740 --> 00:10:11.600 Leniency is to tend to say this to us. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:14.260 It's about avoiding the bad things. 00:10:14.280 --> 00:10:15.530 That's what makes you a good person. 00:10:15.700 --> 00:10:18.080 And Christianity tends to say this to us. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:19.520 It's about pursuing Jesus. 00:10:19.520 --> 00:10:21.120 That's what makes you a godly person. 00:10:22.500 --> 00:10:27.340 It's not about how good you were, it not doing the bad things, but how much you give Christ control in all things. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:37.600 And so he comes to chapter 14 or excuse me, chapter four and verse 14, and he says, this is this is the real indicator for us as maturity 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:44.880 is coming upon us as believers, and we're giving into the growth that we have in Christ, is that you're allowing God to have control 00:10:44.880 --> 00:10:46.080 in all things. 00:10:47.940 --> 00:10:53.490 Psalms verse nine, chapter 90 and verse 12 says this God teach us to number our days. 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:58.860 I love the way that James says it in verse 17. 00:11:00.120 --> 00:11:05.280 If anyone then knows the good they ought to do and does not do it is sin for them. 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:12.120 You know, in the Bible there are two distinctions of sin that's discussed for us. 00:11:12.180 --> 00:11:18.870 There's one called the sin of commission and another called the sin of omission, sins that we commit and sins that we omit. 00:11:19.060 --> 00:11:22.560 And what it means is this sometimes we deliberately disobey God. 00:11:22.560 --> 00:11:24.500 We commit sins against God. 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:28.460 But then there's other times we just ignore it. 00:11:30.700 --> 00:11:31.600 In verse 17. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:34.740 This is this is what James is saying to the believers here. 00:11:34.740 --> 00:11:39.400 It's not it's not that you're doing bad things, but that you're just omitting God from your plans. 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:44.020 And that course of action still leads to the same place. 00:11:44.020 --> 00:11:47.390 It's a life without glorifying God and living with him in relationship. 00:11:49.260 --> 00:11:54.180 It's as if you get to passages in the Bible that say the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness. 00:11:54.260 --> 00:11:56.640 And so you start living love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness. 00:11:56.680 --> 00:12:01.310 But you forgot that it's the spirit that gives the fruit, not your goodness. 00:12:04.800 --> 00:12:11.980 It's the difference between goodness and godliness, is that godliness has the willingness to lay itself down before Christ, that Christ may move and work 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:12.680 within you. 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:17.120 Goodness works on its own power to prove its own worth. 00:12:19.460 --> 00:12:26.580 James is looking at this individual in chapter four and verse 17, and he remarks that as an individual that's doing it all on his own power apart 00:12:26.580 --> 00:12:27.060 from God. 00:12:29.080 --> 00:12:36.420 You know, the scary thing is for us as believers, that as we look and examine the individual in his life, in that circumstance, we could say without knowing the details, 00:12:36.520 --> 00:12:39.060 that James reveals that he looks like a godly individual. 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:42.600 Faith without works is dead. 00:12:42.620 --> 00:12:45.860 And this guy has works, so he must be all right. 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:56.160 And James in this passage is rooting down to the heart and saying to us, it's possible to have the look without 00:12:56.160 --> 00:12:56.780 the relationship. 00:12:59.420 --> 00:13:04.780 It's possible to take control of what God desires to have control of in your life. 00:13:07.040 --> 00:13:09.340 Sin of omission is still sin. 00:13:10.600 --> 00:13:14.620 It still drives us apart from Christ, and maybe even worse than than that. 00:13:14.620 --> 00:13:17.980 We fool ourselves into thinking that God is really in control. 00:13:19.500 --> 00:13:23.900 I mean, these are the type of people that say, God is sovereign, God rules. 00:13:23.940 --> 00:13:24.740 God has all things. 00:13:24.760 --> 00:13:29.240 But when it comes to their own life, they've never taken the opportunity to practice giving God the authority and position. 00:13:31.140 --> 00:13:36.800 They've learned the christianese words to say about the sovereignty of God, but not demonstrated it within their own lives. 00:13:38.340 --> 00:13:40.680 And so in verse 17, James says this. 00:13:40.840 --> 00:13:41.790 It's a sin of omission. 00:13:44.260 --> 00:13:47.770 It's not taking the time to recognize that God is in control. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:52.580 And so James says this in chapter four and verse 15. 00:13:52.640 --> 00:13:53.710 Now skip that in the passage. 00:13:53.920 --> 00:14:00.260 But here it is and said, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that. 00:14:01.300 --> 00:14:04.040 It's according to his plans. 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:08.100 This passage isn't saying to us, don't make plans, right? 00:14:08.100 --> 00:14:14.340 I mean, first Timothy chapter five tells us that if as men, if you don't provide for your own family, you're worse than an unbeliever. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:19.980 I mean, God's desire for you is to sweat by your brow, to be a provider. 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:22.400 He created you for that reason. 00:14:23.560 --> 00:14:25.340 And so we should strive to do so. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:32.800 And so James isn't saying this passage don't make plans, but rather what he's saying is, as you make plans, hold your hand open 00:14:32.800 --> 00:14:33.660 before the Lord. 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.900 Let him control and guide. 00:14:37.520 --> 00:14:38.510 Make the plans. 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:43.720 But if God redirects, just know and walk with Jesus enough to see where he's directing your life. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:49.600 Make open plans before the Lord that he may have control. 00:14:51.580 --> 00:14:55.500 We do it in verse 15 as it says, according to his will, and this is how we do it. 00:14:55.500 --> 00:15:02.020 We recognize that there is no guarantee of a better tomorrow, that our career does not ultimately control the future. 00:15:02.040 --> 00:15:02.920 But God does. 00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:06.060 And every day is a gift of his grace. 00:15:07.880 --> 00:15:11.240 We don't live our lives as if we control what tomorrow holds. 00:15:12.760 --> 00:15:13.460 God's willed us. 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:17.240 Confused on God's will. 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:20.880 Let me let me just read some of these thoughts from scriptures that relates to God's will. 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:23.640 So we gather an understanding for what God desires. 00:15:23.700 --> 00:15:25.960 In second Corinthians eight five it says this. 00:15:25.960 --> 00:15:29.100 It is God's will that you yield yourself to him. 00:15:29.180 --> 00:15:30.400 First Thessalonians four three. 00:15:30.400 --> 00:15:32.490 It's God's will that you avoid immorality. 00:15:33.220 --> 00:15:35.700 First Thessalonians 516 to 18. 00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:42.920 All Christians should rejoice and pray and be thankful before the Lord in Colossians one nine, filled that we be filled 00:15:42.920 --> 00:15:45.720 with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 00:15:46.200 --> 00:15:53.220 In Ephesians 517, God wants us to understand his will in Romans 12 two, that 00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:55.300 we would prove the will of God. 00:15:55.320 --> 00:15:56.200 And the Greek text. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:59.550 The word prove means to prove by experience. 00:16:02.280 --> 00:16:06.700 As you examine the word will as it relates to God within Scripture. 00:16:08.620 --> 00:16:15.800 What we discover in reading about his will, we find that everything related to God's will deals with us relationally, 00:16:16.200 --> 00:16:17.500 relating to him. 00:16:19.540 --> 00:16:24.120 God created you that you may know him and enjoy him for all of eternity. 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:31.560 The purpose of life is all about relationship, which is why when Jesus came, he said, love the Lord your God with all your 00:16:31.560 --> 00:16:33.040 heart is the greatest commandment. 00:16:33.040 --> 00:16:40.650 And when God created you in Genesis, he breathed into you His Spirit, that you as a created being might be able to communicate with your creator. 00:16:41.980 --> 00:16:47.780 Life is all about relationship with him and understanding God. 00:16:47.780 --> 00:16:54.880 Whatever it takes that I may come to know you and grow in you and enjoy that relationship with you, that is what it's 00:16:54.920 --> 00:16:55.560 all about. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:01.320 So when we read James four and five instead, you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that. 00:17:01.720 --> 00:17:09.380 What James is describing is the life of an individual who walks in relationship with God, and in and enough understanding to see how God directs 00:17:09.380 --> 00:17:11.380 his life, and this is the result of his will. 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.819 You enjoy deeper fellowship with Christ. 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:17.079 You have the privilege of knowing God's truth. 00:17:18.060 --> 00:17:20.069 You're seeing your prayers answered. 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:21.540 First John 514. 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:27.000 There's an eternal quality to the life and the works of the one who does the will of God. 00:17:28.260 --> 00:17:35.260 And when Jesus returns in Matthew 25, you have the opportunity to hear, well done, thou good and faithful servant. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:39.940 When you talk about God's will. 00:17:41.820 --> 00:17:46.830 I think for some of us, we don't delight in the understanding that we even have the privilege of doing so. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:55.610 Meaning, sometimes when we say God's will, we look at it with a sour face, wondering what in the world God is going to place upon you and expectations. 00:17:56.180 --> 00:18:03.180 But when the Bible describes God's will, Jesus says things like this in John 17 that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:03.880 made full. 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:08.220 The very purpose for which you are created is discovered as you rest in the will of God. 00:18:09.620 --> 00:18:16.680 It's not that you look at God's will and you're afraid of what God might call you to do, but you understand that the safest place that you could live your life is at the center of 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:17.520 God's will. 00:18:19.340 --> 00:18:25.420 We measure the success of individuals by their plans, and we look at a person like this and we say, he's exactly what I want to be. 00:18:26.300 --> 00:18:27.300 He's got money he's provided. 00:18:28.160 --> 00:18:29.620 He has things taken care of. 00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:32.410 He has the house, he's got the car, he's got the boat, he's got everything. 00:18:32.960 --> 00:18:35.510 But what he doesn't have is the most important thing. 00:18:35.540 --> 00:18:36.900 And that is a walk with God. 00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:46.660 I mean, if we just separate the distinction this morning, I would say to you, would you rather have all material things in this world or joy resting within your 00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.060 heart? 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:53.560 Would you rather experience the turmoil of the upkeep of those things, or peace that comes through resting in Christ? 00:18:55.920 --> 00:19:03.040 Would you rather have a family that understands what it means to walk in wisdom and love and joy, or one that just treats the material things of this world as created for 00:19:03.040 --> 00:19:04.920 their own personal pleasure apart from God. 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:09.460 Because when you live that life separate from him. 00:19:10.640 --> 00:19:11.140 That's what you build. 00:19:13.820 --> 00:19:18.520 The maturity of a believer understands the importance of putting Jesus at the center of all things. 00:19:20.120 --> 00:19:25.310 Everything we do is sacred and identification to who we are in light of who Christ is. 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:33.950 Can I tell you, I think one of the indicators of where this gets misconstrued for the life of the individual that James describes in chapter four? 00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:37.400 I think it all happens right here in verse 14. 00:19:38.340 --> 00:19:39.880 This is coming out of the NIV translation. 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:45.440 I want you to know, as I get ready to read this verse to you, there's two translations of the Bible that I think get it more accurately in this. 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:47.660 One is the ESV and the other is the NIV. 00:19:48.200 --> 00:19:51.920 The punctuation of the Greek text doesn't come across well in the NASB. 00:19:52.180 --> 00:19:53.190 The new American standard. 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:57.780 But what happens here is there's in the Greek text, there's a question that gets posed. 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:05.460 And I think that this question that's posed within this verse is where this individual misses the entire point, that when we can define this 00:20:05.460 --> 00:20:08.660 question right, it gives purpose and meaning to life. 00:20:08.680 --> 00:20:14.320 And so he says this why you do not even why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. 00:20:14.540 --> 00:20:16.020 What is your life? 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:24.190 You are a mist that appears for a while and then vanishes, maybe to get life on track. 00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:25.460 The. 00:20:25.740 --> 00:20:30.120 The very definition of our identity helps us to live for its purpose. 00:20:32.220 --> 00:20:33.700 What is your life? 00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:40.020 If we were to ask the individual in James chapter four, I wonder how he would answer. 00:20:41.480 --> 00:20:42.500 My life is my career. 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:49.140 So that way when I retire, I completely lose my identity and I go for a tailspin and have to buy a Harley because I don't know what I'm doing right now. 00:20:49.940 --> 00:20:51.190 By Harley, if you can afford it. 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:53.960 But not not because you're in a midlife crisis or. 00:20:55.700 --> 00:20:56.760 And if your wife allows that. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.940 Guess my mind. 00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.980 I'm still working on where is she? 00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:04.180 What is your life? 00:21:05.720 --> 00:21:07.200 What gives you identity and meaning? 00:21:08.260 --> 00:21:09.400 And why did God even make you? 00:21:10.620 --> 00:21:12.920 I mean, did God create you really just to do things? 00:21:13.640 --> 00:21:14.420 Is that why he made you? 00:21:15.400 --> 00:21:20.510 I mean, I just look at God and I think today, if God really made you to do things, wouldn't it be better if God just did it himself? 00:21:21.220 --> 00:21:22.840 Anything I can do, he can do far better. 00:21:24.500 --> 00:21:31.600 Is that why God made you to take your identity and what you do or do God make you to take your identity and what other people say that you 00:21:31.600 --> 00:21:31.880 are? 00:21:34.260 --> 00:21:34.660 No. 00:21:35.280 --> 00:21:36.620 Do you know within our society today? 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:41.100 The thing that we miss completely in American culture, we don't define this. 00:21:42.160 --> 00:21:43.230 I mean, where do you teach this? 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.740 In school. 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:46.960 Who are you? 00:21:47.420 --> 00:21:50.040 I don't know, I just show up in school and I just do my work, right? 00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:51.830 I mean, what's your identity? 00:21:52.100 --> 00:21:55.560 I don't know, listen to television programs and the advertising that exists, right. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.560 That'll tell you. 00:21:57.400 --> 00:21:59.040 Watch some love story. 00:21:59.120 --> 00:22:01.940 You get all your kicks off that that'll that'll define your identity. 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:02.480 You need someone. 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:05.960 Well. 00:22:06.660 --> 00:22:07.120 Who are you? 00:22:09.900 --> 00:22:11.400 In light of who God is, who are you? 00:22:13.940 --> 00:22:21.100 I think within the practice of our life, if we can keep this question at the forefront of our identity and answer it in light of who Christ 00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:25.190 is, then we live life for the purpose that he intended. 00:22:27.940 --> 00:22:31.520 Who are we and what is your life? 00:22:33.520 --> 00:22:38.450 When you make your plans, when you understand that you're created for relationship, that God created you for his purposes. 00:22:39.040 --> 00:22:46.160 When we desire and plan our world, we do so with open hands that knowing that whatever God desires is far greater than my own 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:46.760 desires. 00:22:46.760 --> 00:22:52.620 And so whatever God needs to do to transition my plans, I live my life with open hands. 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:55.140 I didn't plan that to rhyme, but it did. 00:22:58.620 --> 00:23:00.810 Living in light of who Christ is. 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:08.610 Just so happens that when we live in light of who Christ is, the way that we do that is we demonstrate it in our living. 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:11.060 Faith without works is dead. 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:16.540 So in all that we do, we live to glorify God. 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:19.780 Internally, we understand it's about relationship. 00:23:20.020 --> 00:23:24.140 As God transforms us, it manifests itself externally in the way that we demonstrate. 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:26.810 Our love for God is seen through the way that we love one another. 00:23:28.860 --> 00:23:33.200 God created careers so that we could be a blessing to the world. 00:23:34.520 --> 00:23:41.900 In Genesis, when God made man and woman, he said, be fruitful and multiply, meaning go, serve, demonstrate my glory in 00:23:41.900 --> 00:23:47.260 this world, bear my image, show evidence of the transformation that I bring on you. 00:23:47.300 --> 00:23:50.140 Don't just give me lip service, but give me life service. 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:55.840 As Christ affecting your head, heart and hands. 00:23:58.160 --> 00:24:01.480 When you see Jesus as he lives his life in this world. 00:24:01.540 --> 00:24:06.540 He was one who demonstrated a life that loved those that were in need. 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:12.980 Matter of fact, in the Old Testament, when you read it, shares with us in the Old Testament our heart of God. 00:24:13.040 --> 00:24:14.120 Listen to this law. 00:24:14.320 --> 00:24:21.540 In Leviticus 23 he told the nation of Israel, when you weep, when you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of 00:24:21.540 --> 00:24:23.580 your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:27.280 Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. 00:24:27.280 --> 00:24:28.740 I am the Lord your God. 00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:32.040 Meaning, meaning, take care of your fields. 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:34.920 But when you get to the edges, just stop for those in need. 00:24:36.450 --> 00:24:41.740 And Leviticus 1910, it says this do not give over your vineyard a second time, or pick up the grapes that have fallen. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:43.740 Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. 00:24:44.040 --> 00:24:44.900 I am the Lord your God. 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:52.200 So not only not only do you do the edge of your land, but you also only go across your land one time and whatever's remaining, you help 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:53.020 those in need. 00:24:53.020 --> 00:24:56.320 In Psalm 22 it says this the poor will eat and be satisfied. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:58.340 Those who seek the Lord will praise him. 00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:00.260 May your hearts live forever. 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:03.010 Jesus on the sermon on the Mount. 00:25:03.280 --> 00:25:05.700 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:15.480 And Jesus answered and said this in Matthew 19 two, if you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. 00:25:15.760 --> 00:25:17.220 Then come, follow me. 00:25:18.620 --> 00:25:24.620 Jesus, in that passage is talking to the rich young ruler who lived his life for his wealth and found his identity in his wealth. 00:25:24.800 --> 00:25:29.380 And so Jesus is solution to him is get rid of your wealth and reshape your identity in me. 00:25:31.500 --> 00:25:32.120 What do you live for? 00:25:34.540 --> 00:25:41.600 Maybe the warning is you jump into James chapter five is this living life without God is not good, 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:44.600 even though a life without God may look good. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:51.760 James then begins to share what a godless life looks like as it lives apart from God. 00:25:51.760 --> 00:25:59.080 He says in James chapter five and verse four, behold the pay of the laborers who mowed your field and which has been withheld by you, 00:25:59.160 --> 00:26:00.320 cries out against you. 00:26:00.320 --> 00:26:01.920 And the outcry of those who did. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:04.520 The harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord our Sabbath. 00:26:05.040 --> 00:26:08.220 You have condemned and put to death the righteous man. 00:26:08.440 --> 00:26:10.100 He does not resist you. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:19.140 Meaning when the godless continued to grow in their godlessness, that they began to use their wealth to serve their purposes rather than 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:19.500 God. 00:26:21.100 --> 00:26:28.160 And in verse four, ultimately, what James comes to a head to is describing an individual who lives his life now completely of any moral 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.960 inclinations. 00:26:29.300 --> 00:26:32.580 And he's because he's divorced his thought of God leading. 00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.950 And so in verse seven he says this. 00:26:34.180 --> 00:26:37.790 He's treating people as if they are his slaves for no payment. 00:26:37.800 --> 00:26:39.300 And in verse six he says this. 00:26:39.300 --> 00:26:44.470 He manipulates the courts for his purpose, that people can't receive justice. 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:46.420 In verse three, let me back up. 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:53.340 It says, your gold and your silver have rusted, and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. 00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:55.800 It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasures. 00:26:55.940 --> 00:27:03.140 Behold the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you, and the outcry of those who 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.540 did. 00:27:03.860 --> 00:27:06.200 The harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:10.760 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure. 00:27:10.760 --> 00:27:14.160 You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:23.660 The individual lives his life for godless spending, as if the wealth that he has received is 00:27:23.820 --> 00:27:25.000 for his own purpose. 00:27:25.100 --> 00:27:30.020 But the Bible tells us in Second Corinthians that we are stewards accountable to him. 00:27:30.020 --> 00:27:30.360 Excuse me. 00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:32.260 It's first Corinthians four. 00:27:32.260 --> 00:27:36.350 It says, moreover, is required in stewards that a man be found faithful. 00:27:37.760 --> 00:27:45.160 The way that the Bible describes me and the resources that God gives to me is that I don't really own anything in this world, that 00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:47.740 I'm simply a steward of everything I possess. 00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:52.440 Meaning God holds me accountable with what I do with what he has given me. 00:27:53.860 --> 00:27:54.840 I am a steward. 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:59.100 Godless spending results in this. 00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:05.020 They stored up wealth for themselves and it all ended with them losing it. 00:28:05.020 --> 00:28:07.420 The they kept it from benefiting others. 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:10.900 And in verse five, they lived in luxury. 00:28:12.020 --> 00:28:14.260 The word luxury here illustrates just waste. 00:28:15.580 --> 00:28:16.700 They had their needs met. 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:22.040 Then they went well beyond their needs and they just wasted it all, not thinking of the benefit of other people. 00:28:24.020 --> 00:28:27.920 The last is this it produces godly results or godless results. 00:28:28.440 --> 00:28:28.800 Excuse me. 00:28:28.800 --> 00:28:31.820 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth eaten. 00:28:31.820 --> 00:28:37.300 Your gold and your silver have rusted, and the rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. 00:28:37.600 --> 00:28:40.720 You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure. 00:28:41.060 --> 00:28:41.740 You have fat in your hearts. 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:45.860 In a day of slaughter the riches vanish. 00:28:47.720 --> 00:28:52.980 Verse three like a fire, their character erodes and James warns. 00:28:53.020 --> 00:28:57.780 At the end of James five and verse five that judgment is certain. 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:03.040 Follow the path of a good life. 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.440 That's a godless life. 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:13.700 And when you make yourself your own king, the results can go as James 00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.420 five says. 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:24.400 A good life isn't a godly life, but a godly life produces goodness 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:27.100 not just for yourself, but throughout the world. 00:29:30.100 --> 00:29:31.700 The warning may be in James four. 00:29:31.800 --> 00:29:32.280 Is this. 00:29:32.280 --> 00:29:38.240 Be careful in the way that you measure success and our society today. 00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:43.120 We are good at elevating the success of everything apart from what God would call successful. 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:47.930 You think of the way that we educate children today in society. 00:29:49.300 --> 00:29:54.530 You get get really intelligent, or you work well with your hands or you play sports. 00:29:54.620 --> 00:29:56.020 And that's what life is about. 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:58.820 And little education, the way of character and wisdom. 00:30:00.540 --> 00:30:03.460 I don't know, the last time I went into school and I saw a character class. 00:30:06.320 --> 00:30:08.960 The identity of how God has made us in that we think. 00:30:09.780 --> 00:30:13.860 Think about love and joy and peace and patience and kindness and gentleness. 00:30:13.900 --> 00:30:17.550 The fruit of the spirit produces that in our lives, in our hearts and our minds. 00:30:17.560 --> 00:30:20.140 That's God's desire and God's will for us. 00:30:21.800 --> 00:30:23.440 But little do we measure success that way. 00:30:26.320 --> 00:30:28.820 Be careful not to measure success in the way of the world. 00:30:30.680 --> 00:30:37.720 In Proverbs 19 and 17 it says this he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:39.900 will he pay him again. 00:30:42.500 --> 00:30:45.000 Your career doesn't determine your success. 00:30:47.460 --> 00:30:47.960 Let me get to the end. 00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:50.160 I'm going to share this passage with you. 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:53.140 Just a story that Jesus gave Matthew chapter 26. 00:30:53.180 --> 00:31:00.460 Let me just say this the solution to a life that lives good but not godly isn't give your money away, okay? 00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:08.000 I'm not going to stand here and then say, okay, now to make everything right, let's bring the offering plate back out and everybody give everything that is not the solution. 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:11.540 All that does is produce goodness again with no godliness. 00:31:13.480 --> 00:31:20.900 I think the solution Jesus gave to us in Matthew chapter 26, when he has his disciples gathered together with Mary, and he's being anointed 00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:27.980 in this passage of Scripture, and it says this to us, it says, now when Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came 00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:34.160 to him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at the table. 00:31:35.140 --> 00:31:39.980 But the disciples were indignant when they saw this and said, why this waste? 00:31:39.980 --> 00:31:44.140 For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor. 00:31:44.980 --> 00:31:48.300 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, why do you bother the woman? 00:31:48.340 --> 00:31:55.680 For as she has done a good deed to me, for you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. 00:31:56.760 --> 00:32:00.580 For when she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:08.920 Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:11.440 of in memory of her. 00:32:13.810 --> 00:32:19.540 I think the solution to James Ford is in Matthew 26. 00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:26.380 I mean, we answer the question that verse 14 talks about, but Jesus also answers that question here in chapter 26. 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:30.900 You look at this passage of Scripture and you say, okay, I get that. 00:32:30.960 --> 00:32:33.380 I give my heart to Jesus, as this lady did. 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:36.260 But Jesus isn't physically here and I'm out of perfume, right? 00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:37.680 And what am I going to do? 00:32:39.640 --> 00:32:46.740 The solution to a life that lives good but not godly, or lives life without godly planning isn't just to then give everything over. 00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:50.310 The solution is this give your heart to Christ. 00:32:52.540 --> 00:32:53.680 Give your life to Christ. 00:32:54.780 --> 00:32:59.120 See his infinite worth before you and allow him to control your plans. 00:33:01.160 --> 00:33:03.920 You look at this passage of Scripture and say, well, how are we going to do this? 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:05.860 Because we can't do it like this lady did. 00:33:07.240 --> 00:33:14.620 And my answer is this we don't physically love Jesus like this lady did in the passage of Scripture, but 00:33:14.620 --> 00:33:17.200 we love Jesus through the way that we choose to love others. 00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:22.020 And Jesus said this, what you've done to the least of these, you've done into what? 00:33:23.240 --> 00:33:23.500 Me? 00:33:25.520 --> 00:33:29.080 And Jesus says, love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. 00:33:29.080 --> 00:33:36.220 Well, Jesus isn't physically here for me to do that, but one of the ways that I demonstrate my love for Christ is the way that I display my love for 00:33:36.220 --> 00:33:37.820 him towards each other. 00:33:41.520 --> 00:33:42.980 In order to give Jesus control. 00:33:44.600 --> 00:33:49.940 It's about surrendering myself to him and allowing the glory of God to be displayed in my life in all things. 00:33:51.400 --> 00:33:56.400 There is nothing secular in this world, but all of it is sacred and light of God. 00:33:57.780 --> 00:33:59.540 He's created it for his glory and purpose. 00:34:00.520 --> 00:34:07.700 He's designed you in his image that you might display it, and his desire is that you would demonstrate it in this world by seeking 00:34:07.700 --> 00:34:14.639 him relationally and living for him in his glory, in the way that you choose to live in relationships in this world. 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.500 Display his goodness. 00:34:19.880 --> 00:34:21.380 Do your plans belong to God? 00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:24.940 It isn't good living, but godly living. 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:26.100 Are they open handed? 00:34:26.199 --> 00:34:27.800 Do you know his will? 00:34:27.800 --> 00:34:30.639 Every day is a gift of his grace. 00:34:30.659 --> 00:34:32.960 Every thing is sacred. 00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:36.070 Sins of omission are still sins. 00:34:36.159 --> 00:34:40.620 And let your worship of Christ steer in all that you do. 00:34:41.560 --> 00:34:44.370 May we pursue Jesus in all things.