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James 4:13-17

 13Go 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:

 14Whereas 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.

 15For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

 17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

What is your life? What are the positives? What things do you wish you could take away? Your future is right now! You can change right now.

Three common mistakes to avoid:

1. PLANNING WITHOUT GOD. Just because something seems right it does not mean God is in it. You can work out every detail but you cannot succeed without God’s blessing. Often times a Christian will get an idea than go to the planning stage than start to put it into action and assume God is in it. Than the plan begins to fail and we blame God, but it is going wrong because of the attitude of self sufficiency. What you can accomplish without God is not of God. The bible teaches planning but it tells us to plan WITH God. Often times we get an idea and assume it is from God but the bible tells us to wait upon the Lord. The future God has planned for you cannot be a reality if you do not give him free rein over your life. Live your life as if it is ALL His. Planning without God is practical atheism. Don’t ask God to bless your plan, ask Him to give you His plan. There are three possible reactions to God’s will you can make reference to it, show difference to it, or show preference to it. We should make plans counting on God to direct us through the plans. (Proverbs 16:9)

2. PRESUMING ABOUT TOMORROW. 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) Be humble when God works through you. When we fail we tend to blame God but when we succeed we take the credit. Give God the glory! It is all God every good gift cometh down from the father. Life is unpredictable. None of us know what tomorrow will bring. Make plans on what God leads you to do. Since life is unpredictable you must trust God every day. Life is brief. Our future is now. You are NOT going to live forever. If you continually put off what you are going to do for God you will never do it. You are a heartbeat away from eternity (Isaiah 56:12. Proverbs 27:1) What level of involvement does God have in your life today? Since life is briev shouldn’t we live for God right now? Live one day at a time; don’t worry about tomorrow because worrying sucks the life out of today. You can plan for the future but live for today!

3. PUTTING OFF DOING GOOD. There are things you dream about doing one day…well today is that day! God ends James chapter 4 with “ 16But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.  17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” Plans are great but actions that are led by God are impacting! Christianity is more than avoiding evil; you can still sin by doing nothing. Simply not sinning does not mean you are not sinning, when you know what is right and you don’t do it you are sinning.

Three are three things you can do with your life, waste it, spend it or invest it. What are you going to do?

Please take a moment and encourage and share with each other. What are you going to stop putting off and do today? Maybe your testimony will help someone else step out on faith and do great things for God.  

 

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