Temptation 2: The Humanist—Boasting Self-Sufficiency Text: James 4:13-17 Introduction: Self-sufficiency is a terrible sin in the eyes of God. The reason is because man is ever so frail, infirmed, corruptible, and subject to disease, accident, heart attacks, and death at the snap of a finger. Yet despite his frailty and the uncertainty of his life, man still ignores God and walks upon earth as though his future is totally in his hands. This is the whole philosophy of humanism, the boast that man is the ultimate being in control of his life and fate. Such a boast is utter foolishness when man is nothing more than a speck before the Omniscience (all-knowing) and Omnipotent (all-powerful) mind that created a universe that is as vast as ours. Humanism or self-sufficiency is so unreasonable and illogical that it is totally unworthy of thinking and honest beings. Yet it is the very position and philosophy, the very life-style chosen by so many people. This is the subject of the present passage—the terrible sin of humanism, of boasting self-sufficiency—the temptation that strikes so many of the gifted people of this earth. Outline: I. Self-sufficiency is planning without God (v.13). II. Self-sufficiency is failure to recognize the uncertainty of life (v.14). III. Self-sufficiency is failure to acknowledge God (v.15). IV. Self-sufficiency is boasting, bragging, and arrogance (v.16). V. Self-sufficiency is sin (v.17). (13) Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (James 4:13) I. Self-sufficiency is planning without God (v.13). There is nothing wrong with making plans. We should plan and prepare for the future. In fact, we should never fail to take the time to plan. Scripture is very clear about this; we are not to be slothful in business or in any endeavor. Believers are to plan and think about their ventures and behavior before they act. In fact, there is usually not enough planning: therefore, so much that we do comes short and turns out to have been wrong decisions. Planning before we act is not what this Scripture is talking about; it is warning us not to plan without God. (11) Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (Romans 12:11) Yet, despite the warning of Scripture—and Scripture gives warning after warning—most men plan their lives without God. They plan as if their own wills and desires controlled the destiny of life. Note the example of Scripture (v.13): how many plan to go to the city or place where they can get gain, where they can… • Get a job. • Establish a profession. • Become successful. • Be famous. • Become important. • Enter business. • Launch a career. • Earn a living. • Gain recognition. Yet, in all their planning they do not consider God—not to the point of making sure that it is His will and making sure that they acknowledge Him in all their ways. But why not? Why does man not acknowledge God as he lays plans and walks through his plans? Because of self-sufficiency. Most people just feel little need for God. They feel that their destiny lies in their hands; that they control their future. They feel that their future and the future of all other men lie in man’s own… • Ability • Plans • Energy • Effort • Works • Discipline • Confidence • Image • Technology • Science • Industry • Education • Training • Production • Economy • Employment The point is this: man feels self-sufficient, perfectly capable of handling his own life and work. Therefore, he lives and works little meaningful trust placed in God. Man just does not acknowledge much if any need for God. Verse 13 paints a picture of man’s attitude rather descriptively. Man feels so self-sufficient that… • He plans the day of his departure: today or tomorrow. • He plans to seek his future in a particular city. • He even plans how long he will seek success in his efforts: one year. • He plans the details of his endeavor and work: he plans to buy and sell. • He plans and projects his costs and profits, the very gain he can expect at the end of the year. Again this is not wrong. He not only should, but he must plan his life and work while he is on earth. It is the only way he can fulfill his purpose for being on earth. But he must seek God’s will and guidance, help and care, and he must acknowledge God as he plans and lives out his plans. This is the great error of the self-sufficient person—the person who feels that man is the supreme and ultimate end of life—that man can handle his own affairs and life without God. Application: Note the great error of self-sufficiency, of planning without God. How can a person ever be sure… • That he will ever reach the city or place of his plans? • That he will not have an accident or be stricken with some disease? • That something will not cut into his plans? • That he will be able to continue in his chosen city or place? • That people will recognize and support and patronize his work and efforts? • That the economy and money and business will hold and continue to be successful? A thousand possibilities exist: a thousand things can happen to our plans. Utter disruption of our future is no farther away than a split second in an automobile accident or within a doctor’s routine examination. The future of every person on earth is at most a small boat on the stormy and uncertain sea of life. (1) Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1) (4) With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: (5) By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: (Ezekiel 28:4-5) (19) Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: (20) But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: (Matthew 6:19-20) (33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) (18) And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, (19) And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (Mark 4:18-19) (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) (7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (1 Timothy 6:7) II. Self-sufficiency is failure to recognize the uncertainty of life (v.14). (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14) Self-sufficiency is failure to recognize the uncertainty of life. There are two reasons why tomorrow is uncertain. 1. Our minds and nature are limited. We just cannot know the future. No matter what we may plan or think, we do not know what will happen tomorrow; we are completely in the dark. Think for a moment: what will happen tomorrow? • An accident. • Some disease. • A broken relationship. • Some bad news. • Some good news. • Death. • A plane crash. • Money lost. • A serious fire. • A stock market rise or fall. • Some stock collapse. We do not know about tomorrow. In fact, we do not know what will happen one hour from now. The point is this: we forget and ignore our nature—who we are, how limited we really are, how uncertain life with all its happenings and events really is. There is a tendency within man to ignore the fact of his frailty and weakness. In the pride and arrogance of his soul, he wants to be in control of his own life and destiny to be completely self-sufficient. He wants to have no need whatsoever for God. But this is utter foolishness, for man cannot know what will happen tomorrow. His very nature is limited, so limited that he cannot know much about what is happening now and very little about what happened in the past. He does not and cannot know about tomorrow. 2. Our lives at most are only a vapor that appears for a brief time and then vanishes away. Once we are born into this world, the only thing we can know for sure is that we will die; sooner or later we will die. Life is just like a vapor: it appears and can be seen, but it is not solid or substantial or permanent. It is shifted and buffeted about and disappears ever so soon—all because of its nature and the changes in its environment. So it is with life: it appears and then it is gone, vanished away. The end of life will come to each of us, and nothing can stop it. It may come today or tomorrow, but it is coming. It may be due to… • A faulty bolt or tire. • Someone falling asleep at the controls. • An accident. • A disease. • A thief. • A heart attack. • A fire. • A drowning. • Old age. We seldom know when death comes and how it will come. But come it will, and when it comes, we are snatched out into eternity never to return to this life. We are gone forever. Life is uncertain, totally uncertain. It is not even certain for today, much less for tomorrow. Therefore, refusing to face up to this fact is utter foolishness. • Living a self-sufficient life apart from God is the depth of foolishness. • Planning the future without planning for one’s eternal future is the depth of foolishness. (12) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12) (27) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27) (10) But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. (James 1:10) (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (1 Peter 1:24) (14) For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him. (2 Samuel 14:14) (6) My days are swifter than a weavers shuttle, and are spent without hope. (Job 7:6) (25) Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. (Job 9:25) (23) For I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living. (Job 30:23) (5) Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah. (Psalm 39:5) (12) Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. (Psalm 49:12) (5) Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. (6) In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. (Psalm 90:5-6) (14) For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. (15) As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. (16) For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. (Psalm 103:14-16) (8) There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it. (Ecclesiastes 8:8) (22) Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? (Isaiah 2:22) (12) Mine age is departed, and is removed from me as a shepherds tent: I have cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt thou make an end of me. (Isaiah 38:12) (6) The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: (7) The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. (Isaiah 40:6-7) (10) They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. (Isaiah 49:10) (12) I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; (Isaiah 51:12) (6) But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6) III. Self-sufficiency is failure to acknowledge God (v.15). (15) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. (James 4:15) Self-sufficiency is failure to acknowledge God. A person should consult God in his plans and life, but most, by far most, do not. Most people go about living life like they want; they seldom consider God. But this is not the way life is to be lived. A person is to acknowledge God and confess his dependency upon God. Note that man is said to be dependent upon God for two things. 1. Man is dependent upon God for life: he should say, “If the Lord will, I shall live.” This means that whether he lives or not and how he lives is in the hands of God. Therefore, a man should depend upon God for life; he should pray and discuss his life with God, such things as… • His wealth. • Protection. • Security. • Housing. • Fulfillment. • Joy. • His welfare. • Provision. • Food. • Clothing. • Love. • Peace. Everything concerning life itself—whether we live or die and how well we live—should be discussed with God. He and He alone is in charge of life and how long we are upon this earth. He loves us and wants to look after and care for us. But we must trust and depend upon Him, fellowship and commune with Him day by day and moment by moment or else He cannot help us. Just think! We can have the love and presence, provision and protection of God. Our lives can be in the perfect will of God. We can live and walk upon earth praying and proclaiming to the world: “If He wills, I shall live—my life and its future and destiny is in the hands and provision and protection of God, totally and completely in His keeping.” 2. Man is dependent upon God for all he does: he should say, “If the lord wills, I shall do this or that.” This means that a man is not able to do what he plans unless God wills it—not a single thing. A thousand things can happen to prevent us from carrying out our plans, even within the next hour, much less tomorrow. Therefore, a person should trust God, pray and talk over all his ways with God… • The ways of his work, each and every activity all through the day. • The ways of his day, each and every turn all through the day. • The ways of his relationship, each and every relationship all through the day. No matter what way a person turns, the person should acknowledge God in all his ways. He should be walking and praying all day long, acknowledging God in all his ways: praying for God’s will as he does this and that. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:6) (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2) (21) But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. (Acts 18:21) (19) But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. (1 Corinthians 4:19) (7) For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit. (1 Corinthians 16:7) (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10) (50) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. (Matthew 12:50) (39) And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39) (42) He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:42) (38) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38) (17) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. (John 7:17) (6) Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; (Ephesians 6:6) (13) Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (Romans 6:13) (10) Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. (Psalm 143:10) (8) I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.(Psalm 40:8) IV. Self-sufficiency is boasting, bragging, and arrogance (v.16). (16) But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. (James 4:16) Self-sufficiency is boasting, bragging, and arrogance. The word “boastings” (alazoniais) means an empty boaster (A.T. Robertson). That is, it is a person who boasts about something he thinks he has, but he does not really have it. He lives in an unreal world. Any person who goes through life without God is just lie this. He lives and plans, thinking that he controls his life and the future. His life is one big boast of self-sufficiency, and it is wrong, totally wrong. A thousand things can happen to change his plans—to injure him or radically change his life and work, or to snatch his life right out of this world. Most people boast—laymen and ministers alike—boast of their work, what they have done, their ability and possessions. But note a fact seldom thought about: most boasting is not done by word of mouth. It is done by the way we live. We boast by flaunting our abilities and successes through our possessions and activities such as expensive houses, clothes and cars, exclusive clubs, friendships, and recreation. We have an urge, a tendency to boast and to be seen and recognized as better and more successful than others. And note what Scripture says: we rejoice in our boastings—that we are more successful in our work than others. But such boastings—such pride and arrogance—are evil. Why? because man’s ability and life are due to God and rest in the hands of God. And in addition to this: the future—tomorrow and even one hour from now—is in the hands of God. It may be a heart attack—it may be a thief—it may be an accident—it is all in the hands of God. What a person needs to do is trust God and commit all his ways into the hands of God, acknowledging Him in all things and at every turn of every day. (34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:34) (16) And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: (17) And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? (18) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. (19) And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. (20) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? (21) So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:16-21) (3) For the wicked boasteth of his hearts desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth. (Psalm 10:3) (6) They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; 7None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (Psalm 49:6-7) (14) Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. (Proverbs 25:14) (1) Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1) V. Self-sufficiency is sin (v.17). (17) Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. (James 4:17) Self-sufficiency is sin. This is a striking definition of sin: to know that we should do something and to refuse to do it is sin. As simply stated as possible: when we know to do good and to refuse to do it, it is sin. A person is to trust and acknowledge God, pray and ask God for His presence, guidance, help, care, and strength… • When he plans today and tomorrow. • When he goes into a city. • When he continues in the city. • When he buys and sells. • When he gets gain. • When he does this and that. A person is to walk in fellowship and communion with God day by day and moment by moment, acknowledging Him in all his ways. He is to commit his life—all his ways—unto the Lord. Refusing to do so is sin, and the wages of sin is death—spiritual and eternal death. (26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: (27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (Matthew 7:26-27) (47) And that servant, which knew his lords will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (Luke 12:47) (14) What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (James 2:14) (23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6) (1) And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Revelation 3:1) (4) Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4) (16) The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. (Proverbs 21:16)
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 11:36:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015