1. Lighthouse and Battleship
There was an officer in the Navy who had always dreamed of commanding a battleship. He finally achieved that dream and was given commission of the newest and proudest ship in the fleet. One stormy night, as the ship plowed through the seas, the captain was on duty on the bridge when off to the port he spotted a strange light rapidly closing with his own vessel. Immediately he ordered the signalman to flash the message to the unidentified craft, ‘Alter your course ten degrees to the south.’ Only a moment had passed before the reply came: ‘Alter YOUR course ten degrees to the north.’ Determined that his ship would take a backseat to no other, the captain snapped out the order to be sent: ‘Alter course ten degrees--I am the CAPTAIN!’ The response beamed back, ’Alter your course ten degrees--I am 3rd Class Petty Officer Jones.’ Now infuriated, the captain grabbed the signal light with his own hands and fired off: ‘Alter course, I am a battleship.’ The reply came back. ’Alter YOUR course, I am a lighthouse.’ No matter how big or important any of us think we are, God’s Word stands forth as an unchanging beacon. All other courses must be altered to His.
2. James 4.13-17
3. A reminder of who is really in charge
a. We want to be – sin of Adam and Eve – wanting to BE God rather than be WITH God
b. Continues today – moral and ethical issues are being decided by godless people rather than by the teachings of God
4. Consider:
I. Improper Boasting – In Ourselves
“Boasting” is as a medicine man hawking his wares in the old frontier – boasting of its alleged abilities to heal, etc.
A. Boasting in Our Abilities –
“Everything that can be invented has been invented.” Charles H. Duell, Commissioner, US Patent Office, 1899 (attributed)
26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1.26-31
Basis for Paul’s and James’ remarks:
23 Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9.23-24
1. Boasting in OUR Wisdom – Planning without God
a. Plans are good – The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. Proverbs 21.5
b. Plans Need God – 3 Commit your work to the LORD,
and your plans will be established./// 9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the LORD establishes his steps. Proverbs 16.3, 9
2. Boasting in OUR Power – strength; talent
a. Always someone stronger (one reason we need God)
b. Old threats leave, new ones come
c. Our strength diminishes
John Quincy Adams, was taking a walk one morning when he meet a friend who asked, “How is John Quincy Adams this morning?” The former president replied, “John Quincy Adams is fine, but this old house I live in is getting pretty rickety.” –
Someone said that in every old person there is a young person wonder what in the world happened.
3. Boasting in OUR wealth
a. Here today; gone tomorrow
b. Cannot insulate us perfectly
[7.16.1999 – JFK, Jr. was flying his wife, and sister in law to Martha’s Vineyard and then planned to go on to a family weeding – crashed his plane, killing all on board.
How much did he leave behind? ALL of it!
B. Boasting In Our Lives
1. YOUR Life – a gift from God; YOU matter to God’s plans
2. It is fleeting – a “vapor” (4.14)
a. Brevity – 10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away. Psalm 90.10
b. Don’t waste it! – Psalm 90.12
12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
A Doctor spoke to his patient, “I have read the results of your tests and I have good news and bad news.” “What’s the good news?” “You have 24 hours to live.” “If that is GOOD news, what’s the bad?” “I should have told you yesterday.” – No matter how we cut it, life is brief.
3. It is unpredictable – weather forecasts; predicting stocks or ball games; the Edsel
Uncertainty of Life ;“It’s hard to make predictions, especially about the future.” Yogi Berra. And that’s evidenced by the statement attributed to Thomas Watson then Chairman of IBM who is reputed to have said in 1945 “I think there’s a world market for about five computers.” Or Ken Olsen (President of Digital Equipment Corporation) who commented at the Convention of the World Future Society in 1977 “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.” Aurora, Colorado//9.11
a. Foolish Farmer in Luke 12.16-21
16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
4. A Warning – James 4.14; Proverbs 27.1
Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
II. Proper Boasting – In the LORD (4.15-17; Jeremiah 9.24)
24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 9.24
A. Our Concentration is On Him (Deuteronomy 6.4 and Mark 12.28-30)
28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ Mark 12.28-30
B. He Takes Charge – 1 Corinthians 15.24-27
24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
1. No Fear, not even of Death
2. Can Trust Him with our Futures
a. [People used to write “DV” when accepting invitations. This meant DEO VOLENTE in Latin. In English it was “God Willing.”
b. Our Plans are ALWAYS – “DV”
• 21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. Acts 18.21
• But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. 1 Corinthians 4.19
• For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 1 Corinthians 16.7
C. He Gives Contentment (Philippians 4.11)
1. Appreciation for the moment – “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6.34
2. We have enough for today – Psalm 23 and green pastures
III. An Appeal to ACT (4.17)
A. Seriousness of Omission
1. Knowing better about certain events – Leviticus 19.16b (CJB)
. . . but also don’t stand idly by when your neighbor’s life is at stake; I am ADONAI.
2. Failing to Honor/Rely on God –
B. Seriousness of Basing Life and Actions on God
1. We are included in HIS story
2. It is about HIM, not us – don’t neglect our dependence on him
Conclusion
1. Dr. Seuss once wrote a poem entitled: “The Places You’ll Go” And part of it goes like this:
“You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”
APPLY: Like all of Dr. Seuss’ works, this is a cute poem. It tells children that they have potential. You have ability and talent. You can stand on your own two feet. You can make your own decisions. You’re not some mindless robot to be programmed. You can think. And you can come to your own conclusions.
2. BUT, we must remember to choose to listen to God and let HIM direct our steps.
I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself,
that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10.23
The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
when he delights in his way; Psalm 37.23
