GOD-CENTERED PLANNING
JAMES 4:13-17
BIG IDEA: Every Christian must live his life according to God’s will.
INTRODUCTION
ILLUSTRATION Dr. Auguste Nelaton, (Nelaton Catheter) the great French surgeon, once said that if he had four minutes in which to perform an operation on which a life is depended, he would take one minute to consider how best to do it.
For this surgeon, planning is an essential tool to make sure that each minute of his time is use wisely and significantly.
In real life situations, planning is also essential but the challenge is we don’t know how much time we have to implement our plans.
ILLUSTRATION That is why someone said “Make long-range plans as if you are going to live forever, and live today as if it were your last day on earth.”
Living is a tough endeavor and yet many are living as if they their lives depended on them. We don’t make decision on how long we are going to live and yet we need to make plan on how we are going to live.
Our passage this morning reminds us of the importance of planning one’s life in accordance to God’s will for our lives. Why? Please open your Bibles to James 4:13-17. (Read the passage.)
EXPOSITION
James addressed those people who say “Today or tomorrow we will go in this or that city, spend a year there carry on business and make money.” James noted that a person cannot just plan his life in that manner.
James was not against planning but he implied that a person cannot just plan his life by himself. Have you notice how this man planned his life? There are three things that we can observe from this statement:
1. The issue of who makes the decision. He said “we will go.”
2. The issue of time. He was so definite when he wants to do it and what he plans to do. “Today or tomorrow, go in this or that city, spend a year there…”
3. The issue of result. He was so sure about the outcome of his action. “Carry on business and make money.”
This is a typical American perspective. We want to be in-charged and we project the results of our actions as if everything is dependent on us. James said that this is wrong. So he proposed a way of planning one’s life.
He said “Instead you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” This statement recognizes the primary role of God on a person’s plan. We cannot make and implement our plans and be assured that it will work right without the presence and approval of God.
To some people this is a form of control and lack of freedom. Why can’t we always do what we want? For them, God discourages their creativity and aggressiveness. That is why they don’t want to consult God in their planning. They want God to stay out of their way. They want to be in-charge; they want to be the God.
James gave two simple reasons why we cannot ask God to stay out of our way:
1. We don’t have any idea of what the future holds. (v. 14)
Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
ILLUSTRATION Hear the famous words of Benjamin Franklin: “Work while it is called today, for you know not how much you may be hindered tomorrow. One today is worth two tomorrows; never leave until tomorrow which you can do today.”
To procrastinator, you do not have the assurance that your life situation tomorrow would still be favorable. So you cannot just say, “Uh, I will do these things next time. I will finish my study next time. I still have a lot of time why not enjoy some of them today and use the rest tomorrow.”
The reality is next time may not be there. The situation may not be the same. The opportunity may not be there anymore. What would our lives be? But if you make God the authority, God may be telling you that now is the time, do it. When you let God be in charged, he would remind you and guide you how to live your life.
To the aggressive, you may plan your life without God but there is no guarantee that you may have it. The result could that you may be doing things ahead of time and miss the priorities of life like family, relationships, and even for self.
Or you may be doing so many things at the same time and ruin yourself in the process. The good thing about considering the Lord’s will is He would show you how to do thing one at a time and accomplish much without experiencing burn out.
We never know what the future holds. Then keep in touch with Him who knows and allow Him to lead or unfold before you what lies ahead. Plan your life with God’s will in mind.
2. We don’t have any control of how long our life would be. (v. 14)
We don’t know how much time God allowed us to have. So it is possible that we have made a long term plans for a short term life. We are not trying to live a morbid life, we simply need to recognize the reality.
LUKE 12:16-21. 16And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. 17He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’
20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”
The Bible says “We are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” I believe we must always remind ourselves that we are just transients, tourists, and pilgrims in this world. And we need the travel guide as we take each day of our lives.
ILLUSTRATION When you go on a tour, many suggested that we join a group with a tour guide. The tour guide will help us maximize our vacation days and make sure that we don’t miss the important places to see during our short trip.
In real life, when we allow God to be our tour guide He would make sure that we will experience the most important aspect of life within our life span.
ILLUSTRATION Kathy Trocolli in her song “My Life is in Your Hands” said, “My life is in your hands, my heart is in your keeping, I’m never without hope not when my future is with you.”
My life is in your hands and though I may not see clearly, I will lify my voice and sing, cause your love does amazing things. Lord I know my life is in your hands.”
Therefore don’t just proceed and make plans without God. Let us say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”I believe we will have better control of our life time if we make God the authority and Lord of our lives.
Some people live their lives as the consequences of their mistake. Now they have no choices because they failed to recognize the Lord’s will for their lives.
Others were so busy and have accomplished much but unfulfilled because they have done so much in life but missed the essential ones. At the end, they are miserable.
But there are others who are dependent on others to make plans for their lives. They just follow the influences of their friends, relatives, and sometimes the trends. Why not God?
How much of our future plans were based on the will of God? God is not against planning but let us make plans with God and give priority to His will. Life without a plan is a disaster but a plan without God is a sin.
CONCLUSION
How do we make plans according to God’s will?
1. We need to humble ourselves before God. Surrender yourself to His authority. Welcome God in your life by asking His Son Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Be willing to follow His will.
2. We need to pray. Seriously talk to God and ask God what is the best way to live your life maybe as young man or woman, family person, student, retirees, as a professional and business person.
Ephesians 5:15-17 “Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
3. We soak our minds and hearts in God’s word. Most of God’s will for our lives are written in the Scriptures. They come in the form of commands, promises, warnings, and encouragements.
ROMANS 12:2. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
4. We also need to consider the counsel and advices of mature and experienced believers.
ILLUSTRATION To know the will of God is the greatest knowledge; To find the will of God is the greatest discovery; To do the will of God is the greatest achievement – George Truett
God knows the best. He knows what lies ahead and how much we still have on earth. Consult Him and say “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
