By: Wayne Wise
James 4:13-17
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:
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.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Life is but a vapor
(The Bible … A commentary on itself)
• V.13 … Luke 12:18
• V.14 … James 1:10; 1 Peter 1:24; 1 John 2:17
• V.15 … Acts 18:21 (Paul desiring to keep the feast)
• V.16 … Their boastings
• V.17 … 2 Cor. 6:2 “… now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Live for Today
Tom often remarked that his day would come.
On Tuesday, it finally came.
At noon, he observed that a finger was numb.
At one, that an ankle was lame.
At two, he suffered a fainting spell,
And at three, felt an ache in his side.
At four, the ankle gave way and he fell.
At a quarter to six, Tom died.
Things to do today …
1. Build Relationships
Making time to do good!
– Proverbs 18:24 ¶ A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.–
– Acts 9:39; Acts 10:1-2; v.38
– To REARRANGE the time
– To Set forth PARTICULAR PRIORITIES
– To EXAMINE one’s life on what is missing
– To see where time has been WAISTEDThings needed to Build Relationships
• Kindness … 1 Corinthians 13
• Humility … Phil. 2:3
• Willingness to Mend … Mat. 18:15-18
• Desire to keep the relationship… Mat. 5:23
• All the Attributes of Love … 1 Cor. 13:4-7
• A Love that Never fails … v.8
• Awareness of Importance of Today … James 4:13
Today is Now
Today is now and yesterday's gone
The future uncertain And still we long
To change the past Or live in tomorrow
Missing today In there, lies the sorrow
Love every today Make each moment count
Love and care for each other That's what life's all about
Don't live in regrets Make the most of today
It's all up to you To find your own way
Find peace in yourself Help others in need
Bring joy to the world Plant your own unique seed
Glow flowers of friendship Open up and be true
Know your greatest gift today Is to simply, BE YOU
For today is now That's all we know
Make the most of today And let your love show
2. Serve God Faithfully Today
• The world needs righteous “players” … TODAY– 2 Peter 3:9
• The church needs influential members …TODAY– Galatians 6:1-2•
Acquaintances are passing through my life ..TODAY– John 4:7
• My family needs my influence … TODAY– 2 Timothy 3:15; Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 22:16
• The only control I have in Life … TODAY
Good Intentions for TOMORROW
• Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.Obey God Today
• What reasons do I have for not serving God?
• Are they reasons or just excuses?
• At the end of my life will I still think of them as reasons?
• At Judgment day will I still think of them as reasons?
• In eternity will I still think of them as reasons?
3. Choose to Obey Today
• Joshua 24:15 ¶ And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.