Mistakes along the way?
In February of 1995, nearly 30 years ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in a clear way that has impacted the course of my life - and yet it has not been without mistakes and missteps. He urged me to go to the church the Danielle grew up at and help out with the youth ministry. The church was not looking for someone to fill a role and I was still 500 miles away in college. 8 months later I became a member of that church and started volunteering. Volunteering turned into part time then full time ministry.
Ten years later, I thought I heard the Spirit again calling me/us into…
Church planting
followed someone who invested in me
delayed by the board overseeing the work
placed with a church in NoVa - to help with a revitalization - while still assisting with worship at FBCR.
Pastor left - all staff with him - including me
returned to FBC f/t - leading worship
A few years after that, I again thought I heard the Spirit leading us to
Full time overseas missions
I’ve had a heart for missions for a long time
Felt led to go through a missions emphasis that we had
Wanted to go before our kids got into middle school
Applied to go overseas with the IMB
Economy tanked - door closed
Did I hear incorrectly?
Was God doing something else?
Proverbs 16:3 (ESV)
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
I thought that is what we were doing, but God had other plans for us.
As we have been examining the book of James, we’ve learned about a variety of practical ways in which we can live a fully integrated faith. As we look at this next part of the letter, we get to learn how this integrated faith is lived out in our plans.
Open your Bibles to James 4:13.
Throughout the book, James has been using a word that refers to brethren or brothers and sisters in Christ - even going so far as to call them “beloved brothers and sisters.” As he longs for their growth in Christ, he identifies with them as family.
In this section of his letter and the next, he begins to call out people in a different way using words that the ESV translates “come now.” He addresses people who have means and yet because they are addressed in this letter are likely affiliated with the church in some way.
Whether we have means or not, James addresses the idea of plan-making - calling us to consider the sovereignty of God.
In the passage we’re considering today, he writes:
If we could consolidate all of what he says here into one sentence or phrase, it might be…
Avoid hubris and embrace humility by submitting to God’s sovereignty in making plans.
We all have plans - plans for vacation, plans for work, plans for school, plans for church. We have long-term plans and short-term plans. We have plans that last a day and others that last a lifetime. So as we think about this passage, James urges us to consider God’s plans when making our own, noting that…
In making plans...
hubris is irresponsible (13-14, 16)
Let’s look again at a few of these verses:
James is talking specifically about people who are trying to make a profit. The market in one area seems to be good and so they are seizing the opportunity to benefit from things in that other area - so they make plans to go and they assume that everything will work out - exactly as they had planned.
It is a matter of hubris or pride for us to think that we can and should do something at a certain time or in a certain place without seeking the counsel or will of the Lord.
In the affluent society in which we live, it’s not uncommon to receive advice that is designed to help us get ahead. Whether stock advice, business insights, TikTok counsel, or even your brother-in-law’s latest greatest get rich quick scheme, the opportunities in our culture abound.
Beyond just profiteering opportunities, there are general plans before us - vacations, jobs, education, experiences, and so much more.
The point that James makes is not that making a profit is bad or even seizing the opportunity is evil, but that doing so in pride is irresponsible. Placing confidence the the certainty of these plans and the promise of the outcome is foolish - even evil.
As we think about the opportunities that are placed in front of us, there are many good and even God-honoring opportunities. As we look ahead to the next couple of weeks and months - even as a church we have several opportunities -
Poolesville Day - the opportunity to spend time with people, sharing the Good News of the Gospel, hearing how we can be praying for people in the community, inviting people to church, etc.
The Men’s Retreat - an opportunity for men to gather for a little over 24 hours to be challenged to grow as men, fathers, husbands, sons, leaders, etc.
Rise Against Hunger - an outreach opportunity for us as a church to invite the community in to bless people around the world with a basic need
MBA Annual Meeting and Revival
Community Trunk or Treat
Election
BCMD Annual Meeting
Thanksgiving luncheon
Calleva Christmas Village
Christmas parties
And those are just events in the next couple of months that may affect the church. Beyond that there are events that affect us individually or as families.
How do we decide what to do?
How do we differentiate good from godly?
How do we determine what gets on our calendars and what doesn’t?
But notice, one of the reasons James gives to urge us to avoid hubris is the brevity of our lives. He says that we can’t know the future and even more, our lives are mists or vapors. In the grand scheme of things the 70, 80, 90, 100 years that we may have to live is a mere blip in the timeline of eternity. Because life is so short, we need to be heavenly minded in our earthly matters.
A couple of brothers came to Jesus to urge him to settle a financial dispute between them. Jesus replied…
Jesus was addressing the sin of greed, but presumptuousness, hubris is right there. The man’s pride hindered him from considered that God would have a different plan, a different timeline.
So, beloved, where do we need to repent of our pride in our plan-making?
Where do we need to make room for the Sovereignty of God?
Where to we need to repent of hubris and take on humility?
Which brings us to the next point that James is making.
He seems to be urging us to reflect on the fact that in our plan making…
humility is important (15)
He writes:
When I worked at FBC Rockville, I had many conversations with our janitor, Jose. Jose had grown up in El Salvador in an Assemblies of God context. During our conversations, it was not uncommon for me to hear him say, “primero Dios.” Literally, that means “first God” - practically, if God wills. You see, when Jose and I were talking, it was as if the concept of God’s sovereignty or God’s grace was ingrained in him from childhood. Primero Dios, if God wills, we will….. Maybe it was just a cultural tag, but it at least acknowledged the fact that plans may be made, but God may change them.
The point of what is communicated in this verse is not some rote phrase, but a humble affirmation that God is in charge- that God has a will or a desire for us individually, corporately, for our family, for our world.
Our response then is humility.
It’s important that we maintain an attitude that my plans may change, because God has something different in mind. Sometimes that is explicit in His Word. He won’t lead you to sin, for sure.
What would happen if we acknowledged God’s sovereignty more in our conversations? What if we were to say things like “God willing” or “Lord willing” in the course of conversations that include future plans?
When we act with humility, we…
affirm God’s sovereignty in our lives
proclaim God’s sovereignty to the watching world
adapt to the fact that God’s plans may be different than ours. His will may be different than ours.
Jesus demonstrated this humility and even submission to the will of God in so many ways. His entire life was an act of humility. On the night before he was crucified he seemed to know what was coming. He knew there were be suffering, agony, pain, and death. He poured out his heart to the Father…
We saw last week that humility is important in conflicts. It’s important in life. It’s important for eternity.
Our natural inclination is to want to be self-sufficient. We want to pave our own way and make our marks. As a society, we presumptuously said “God helps those who help themselves” and “God wants me to be happy.” Those misguided philosophies cause us to run headlong to Hell in our hubris.
Scripture reminds us that God’s ways and thoughts, His will is different than ours.
Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
So, in response and in humility, we should come to him, respond to his gracious call. Receive the salvation. Recognize that our ways do not naturally align with his because of our sinfulness. Repent and believe, be baptized - not only immersed in water, but immersed in His Word and His ways in order that we we might walk in ways that truly honor him.
If you’ve not yet trusted in Christ as your savior, humble yourself today.
If you’ve not yet gone public with your faith in baptism, then let’s have a conversation and discuss what baptism is and what it means.
If you’re not regularly in the Word, then schedule some time to read and reflect on the Word. Ask a brother or sister in Christ to read with you or check in on you. Or, join in on these reading sessions that we discussed before. I would love to read in discuss the Word with you and then prayerfully consider how we should humbly align our lives to His Will.
All of this will take time. While we don’t know what tomorrow holds, we do know who holds tomorrow. We can and should humbly make the most of every day that God gives us.
So if hubris is irresponsible and humility is important, finally we get to see that when making plans…
honesty is integral (17)
As we continually humble our wills, plans, schedules, lives to God’s Sovereignty, there will be places where we have to adjust and even repent. God will reveal things by His Word, His Spirit, His people - calling us to change, refining us, inviting us to grow.
There are sins that we commit. Those blatant acts of rebellion. We need to repent of those things.
But as James discusses here, we also sin when we omit or avoid doing something that we should do.
So, as we think about this in light of our plan-making, we need to be sensitive to how God may be calling us to change course. We have to be honest with ourselves and with the Lord when we sense his prompting.
The Apostle Paul provides a helpful example of this. During one of his missionary journeys, he was traveling though Galatia and Phrygia - in what is modern day Turkey, East of Istanbul - sharing the gospel in the towns of those regions, planting churches along the way. It seemed like his desire, his plan was to go east to Asia to a region called Bithynia, but God had other plans.
Paul’s honesty with himself about the fact that God had other plans, allowed him to have a fruitful ministry in Macedonia and Greece. From which, we get the books of Philippians and 1 & 2 Thessalonians and 1 & 2 Corinthians. Eventually God allowed Paul to come back to Asia and have a fruitful ministry in Ephesus, Colosse, and Galatia. Had Paul been hard-headed and remained on the course that he initially intended to travel, he would have been deceiving himself into thinking that any work for the Lord is God’s will. His honest and humble obedience is an excellent example for us.
Where do we need to adjust our plans?
Where do we need to take an honest assessment of where we are omitting the good work that God has called us to?
Where to we need to change course in our schedules, habits, interactions with neighbors, friends, family members?
Maybe for some, God may be calling you into full time service or into ministry overseas or even into another career - where he can make the most of your gifts and abilities for His glory?
Electricians - help with Grace Harbor
Partners with the Bass family or the Goels
Seminary - church planting
Or maybe the Spirit is prompting us in smaller ways where do we need to
delete certain apps
change what we watch or listen to
Read a physical Bible rather than a digital one - because of the distractions of the other things on our devices
Closing thoughts
I shared at the beginning about some of our misadventures in following God.
Was the church planting/revitalizing year a waste? Not totally.
The pastor’s young-adult son had run into legal challenges and moved to the area to be with his parents. A connection that I had from FBC opened a door for him to have some gainful employment in the auto industry. He has continued to work with that same organization for nearly 20 years.
The revitalization efforts may have failed on that first go around - but the church knew they needed help and reached out to some folks at Capital Hill Baptist. What was a fledgling church of 30 is now a thriving congregation of over 300. Del Ray Baptist church is discipling people profoundly, preparing pastors, and sending missionaries. The Goel family came through the internship program of that church!
What about the failed missions endeavor? God hasn’t changed my heart for missions.
Opened doors to minister in India - and now Nepal (January) - training pastors to do indigenous ministry
Allowed me to help facilitate trips to Ukraine, Mexico, Jordan, and now Saudi.
I may have been acting in hubris in some of those areas, but God, in His grace, has redeemed those things for His glory.
There are so many ways that we need to prayerfully respond to God’s word in our lives. Let’s begin by repenting of our pride or hubris, walk with the Lord in humility, and honestly respond to where he is leading.
Let’s pray.
Sources:
Mangum, Douglas, ed. Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament. Lexham Context Commentary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020.
Moo, Douglas J. The Letter of James. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2000.
Moyter, J.A. The Message of James. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grover, IL; Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985.
Nystrom, David P. The NIV Application Commentary: James. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1997.
Questions for reflection and discussion
Read: James 4:13-17
In verses 13 and 14, what is James’ point?
Is James against making a profit or is he getting at something else?
Some might say that since you don’t know what tomorrow brings, that you should make the most of every day. How does this view mesh with James’ point?
What does it look like to live with verse 15 in mind?
What attitude should result in our lives from verse 15?
How does verse 17 relate to the others?
