What Is Your Life?

TEXT: JAMES 4:13-15 (NIV)

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

LIFE IS SHORT

Life is short. Within this span of time, everyone wants to make the best out of life. Money is the common denominator of success in today's society. The more money you make the more accolades, awards and fame you receive. So, the thoughts of men are dominated by plans or dreams to make money. Many today, will do anything to become wealthy, good or bad. For many, God is not in their thoughts. Psalms 94:11 says: "The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity."

MONEY - SLAVE OR MASTER

Money is a wonderful slave but a terrible master. Money can do a lot of good but when it becomes your master, it destroys the soul.

1 Timothy 6:10 says: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." No man can serve the god of mammon and the Living God (Matt 6:24). Whom do you serve - God or mammon? Life is short, today it is here, tomorrow it is gone. A life devoted to the things of this world without any thought of God, the giver of life is wasted. When life ends, the 'things' we have worked so hard to acquire become nothing. Don't waste your life just acquiring things, but rather touch the life of people positively. What is your life?

GOD - THE OWNER OF LIFE

Many forget that tomorrow is not theirs and the very breath that keeps them alive is not in their power to control. They forget that their life is not their own. We know of yesterday from our memories, we can control the now to an extent but tomorrow we cannot control. Life can vanish away like smoke and fade like a flower. Your life is in God's hand. "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life" (Job 33:4). When a man forgets God, he forgets the source of his existence. We should not plan without God but rather make God the centre of our plans. "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Psalms 37:5). God's plan for our lives supersedes our personal plans, knowing God's will for our lives makes life more worthwhile (Jer 29:12). What is your life?

PUT GOD FIRST

Life is short, but long enough to allow God impact others positively through you. You are an arrow of spirit and life in God's hand. God wants to use you for his own purpose and bless you to fulfil your own purpose. Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all other things shall be added to you (Matt 6:33). Serve the God that is able to bless you and make you rich without sorrow (Prov 10:22). Let your life be worthwhile to God and humanity.

PRAYER:

Father, make me a vessel of blessing in Jesus name.

CONFESSION: My life is in God's hand.

God bless you. Shalom.