"WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15)

"WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) I. THE DANGER OF PRESUMPTUOUS PLANNING (v. 13) Presume: "1. to take upon oneself without permission or authority; to dare; to say or do something; to venture. 2.to take for granted; to accept as true until proof to the contrary is furnished; to suppose; to presuppose.” (Webster) Lev. 10:1 ‑ 2; 2 Kgs. 5:11; Acts 17:28; Lk. 12:16- 19; Gen. 13:10-12; Ps. 19:13-14; 49:11-12

"WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) I. THE DANGER OF PRESUMPTUOUS PLANNING II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11 II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11

THE BIBLE'S ANSWER TO "WHAT IS MY LIFE?" 1. It is Transient. "a vapor that appeareth for a little time" (v.14); "my dwelling (body)...is carried away from me as a shepherd's tent" (Isa. 38:12 ASV) 2. It is Frail. "our earthly house" will "dissolve" (2 Cor. 5:1); "[Man] cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not" (Job 14:2) 3. It is Brief. "my days are swifter than a runner" (Job 9:25 NASB); "my days [are] as an handbreath" (Ps. 39:5) THE BIBLE'S ANSWER TO "WHAT IS MY LIFE?" 1. It is Transient. "a vapor that appeareth for a little time" (v.14); "my dwelling (body)...is carried away from me as a shepherd's tent" (Isa. 38:12 ASV) 2. It is Frail. "our earthly house" will "dissolve" (2 Cor. 5:1); "[Man] cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not" (Job 14:2) 3. It is Brief. "my days are swifter than a runner" (Job 9:25 NASB); "my days [are] as an handbreath" (Ps. 39:5)

THE BIBLE'S ANSWER TO "WHAT IS MY LIFE?" 1. It is Transient. 2. It is Frail. 3. It is Brief. 4. It is Uncertain. "this night thy soul shall be required of thee" (Lk. 12:20); "ye know not what shall be on the morrow" (v. 14) 5. It is Irretrievable. "it is appointed to men once to die" (Heb. 9:27); "we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again" (2 Sam. 14:14) THE BIBLE'S ANSWER TO "WHAT IS MY LIFE?" 1. It is Transient. 2. It is Frail. 3. It is Brief. 4. It is Uncertain. "this night thy soul shall be required of thee" (Lk. 12:20); "ye know not what shall be on the morrow" (v. 14) 5. It is Irretrievable. "it is appointed to men once to die" (Heb. 9:27); "we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again" (2 Sam. 14:14)

"WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) I. THE DANGER OF PRESUMPTUOUS PLANNING II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11 II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11

“It is better to die well than to live badly.” John Huss

"WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) I. THE DANGER OF PRESUMPTUOUS PLANNING II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11 II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11

"Life is a Journey. - At our birth it begins, with death it closes. It is a great mistake to forget this. If this were our home, and not a country through which we are pass- ing to our home, we might make it our business to seek for ease and pleasure here. But if we are strangers and pilgrims on the road to a better land, we can afford to give up ease and pleasure until we get home. To get safe to the journey's end, is what we want.” (Millenial Harbinger, 1862, Series 5, v. 5, p. 119, author unknown)

The Dash I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend He referred to the dates on her tombstone From the beginning to the end He noted that first came her date of her birth And spoke the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years For that dash represents all the time That she spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved her Know what that little line is worth. The Dash I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend He referred to the dates on her tombstone From the beginning to the end He noted that first came her date of her birth And spoke the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years For that dash represents all the time That she spent alive on earth. And now only those who loved her Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own; The cars, the house, the cash, What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left, That can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough To consider what’s true and real And always try to understand The way other people feel. For it matters not how much we own; The cars, the house, the cash, What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash. So think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left, That can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough To consider what’s true and real And always try to understand The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like we’ve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect, And more often wear a smile Remembering that this special dash Might only last a little while. So, when your eulogy is being read With your life’s actions to rehash Would you be proud of the things they say About how you spent your dash? -- Linda Ellis And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more And love the people in our lives Like we’ve never loved before. If we treat each other with respect, And more often wear a smile Remembering that this special dash Might only last a little while. So, when your eulogy is being read With your life’s actions to rehash Would you be proud of the things they say About how you spent your dash? -- Linda Ellis

"WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) I. THE DANGER OF PRESUMPTUOUS PLANNING II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11 II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11 III. MUST TREAT GOD LIKE GOD (v. 15) A. Recognize failures, Acts 13:1-2 B. Seek our place in His plans, 2 Tim. 4:7 C. Practical helps, Prov. 11:14 III. MUST TREAT GOD LIKE GOD (v. 15) A. Recognize failures, Acts 13:1-2 B. Seek our place in His plans, 2 Tim. 4:7 C. Practical helps, Prov. 11:14

"Life bears us on like a mighty river. Our boat at first goes down the mighty channel ‑ through the playful murmuring of the little brook, and the willows upon its glassy borders. The trees shed their blossoms over our young heads ‑ the flowers on the brink seem to offer themselves to our young hand; we are happy in hope, and grasp eagerly at the beautiful things around us; the stream hurries on, and still our hands are empty. Our course in youth and manhood is along a wider, deeper flood, and amid objects more striking and magnificent. We are animated by the moving picture of enjoyment and interest passing us; we are excited by our short- lived excitements. The stream bears us on, and joys and griefs are left behind us. We may be shipwrecked, but we

cannot be delayed; for, rough or smooth, the river hastens towards its home, till the roar of the ocean is in our ears, and the waves beneath our feet, and the floods are lifted up around us, and we take our leave of earth and its inhabitants, until to our further voyage there is no witness save the Infinite and Eternal." (Bishop Heber, Millenial Harbinger, 1867, vol. 38, p. 84)

"WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) "WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?" (James 4:13-15) I. THE DANGER OF PRESUMPTUOUS PLANNING II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11 II. OUR LIMITATIONS (v. 14) A. Knowledge, Prov. 27:1 B. Nature of life, 2 Pet. 3:11 III. MUST TREAT GOD LIKE GOD (v. 15) A. Recognize failures, Acts 13:1-2 B. Seek our place in His plans, 2 Tim. 4:7 C. Practical helps, Prov. 11:14 III. MUST TREAT GOD LIKE GOD (v. 15) A. Recognize failures, Acts 13:1-2 B. Seek our place in His plans, 2 Tim. 4:7 C. Practical helps, Prov. 11:14