Presumptuous Confidence

By Mitch Rhymer

Introduction:

1. The whole of James 4 exposes the sins of the Christians that were common to those whom James was writing.

2. The primary characteristic of these sins was the presumptuous disregard for God and His way.

3. Verses 1-10 shows that these people chose the world over God.

4. Verses 11-12 indicate that these Christians held in contempt the law of God.

5. The verses under consideration, 13 and 14, introduce the sin of presumptuous confidence with reference to future events.

6. It is a presumptuous confidence in a future that excluded God and no recognition of divine providence.

7. This presumptuous confidence is an attitude that is common to all men at one time or another where plans are made with disregard for God.

8. It is therefore necessary to understand dependence on God is paramount in Christianity.

9. To make plans without God in our homes, business ventures, and lives shows a gross indifference towards God's will for our lives.

I) Presumptuous Confidence of the Christians

A) These men had great plans.

1. Their sin was not careful planning.

2. Their sin was that they excluded God.

3. Their sin included reliance upon their own will for success.

B) They assumed they were going to live.

1. Since God was excluded and their whole plan was in their own hands, then they assumed they were to live.

2. They choose to execute their plan based upon a continued life.

C) Do we not make the same presumptions about our lives?

1. Consider the proposition "All men are mortal."

a. This is true but we tend to think that we are exceptions.

b. We tend to view our death as a great distance away.

c. Regardless of one's age we can be deluded to forget two things.

(i) The uncertainty of life

(ii) Divine providence.

2. Even the church makes these same assumptions.

a. Many churches have a rainy day fund.

b. Most in the church withdraw inward and forget about the uncertainty of life concerning the lost world.

II) Presumptuous Confidence of the Uncertainties of Life

A) There is no assurance in life.

1. We do not know what will happen in the next minute, day, week, or year.

2. Death is sudden and final.

B) No man can know what tomorrow brings.

1. James was writing to those who planned for a year of tomorrows but they did not know what was to happen in the first tomorrow.

2. Their plan forgot 6 uncertainties of life.

a. Whether they would be alive.

b. Whether there would be a tomorrow.

c. Whether they would be physically able to begin or finish the plan.

d. Whether circumstances would allow them to execute their plan.

e. Whether or not if they entered the city they would be able to pursue their plan.

f. Whether their plan would prove to be profitable.

3. It is foolish to disregard these uncertainties of life.

a. We are powerless to determine the next minute of our life.

b. God may not predetermine our lives but his providence guides the circumstances that surround our lives.

C) What is your life?

1. Consider the life you have before making plans.

a. Is it prepared for death today or tomorrow?

b. Since your plans depend upon the maintenance of life what is the character of your heart?

c. We must remember that this is not limited to the sinner but the saint as well.

(i) There is no assurance that the ills of the world won't affect a Christian.

(ii) We must be well aware that whatever the world brings Christians are susceptible.

2. Your life is a vapor appearing for a little while and then vanishes away.

a. Nothing more than a wisp of cloud floating in the bright blue sky there one moment and gone the next.

b. The brevity of life should be familiar to all Bible students.

(i) We should be impressed by the vivid pictures of our vaporous life.

(ii) Life is compared to:

(a) Water spilled on the ground.

(b) A flying shadow which flits across the sky granting shade for the weary only to fly away.

(d) Sleep

(e) A dream

(f) A handbreadth

(g) A shepherd's tent removed

(h) A tale told

(i) A long journey one is to undertake.

III) Perfected Confidence in God's Will.

A) Allow God to take care of your needs.

B) Apply your heart unto wisdom (Ps. 90:12).

C) Recognize that death is in the best interest of an earthly life.

1. Wicked grow more wicked, pain grows more agonizing, sorrow looks forward to more sorrow, and sick get sicker.

2. There is great relief in the world after death.

Conclusion:

1. What, then, is your life?

2. Is it a safe and secure life resting upon hope in the promises of God?

3. Do you presume to plan without God?

4. God's will is for you to be saved today, right now.

5. Do not delay in getting your heart right with God.

6. Either by obeying the plan of Salvation for those alien to God or by obeying the plan of Restitution for those fallen from God.

Posted in: Book of James, Sermon Outlines