Do not boast and brag

James 04: 13-17

¹³Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." ¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." ¹⁶As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

I. Core Message

Content:

1) Life is like a mist, we are not able to grasp it (v13-14)

2) We live in God’s will. (v15)

3) Pride is sin. (v16)

4) He who knows the good and doesn’t do it, sins. (v17)

Theme:

1. Do not boast and brag.
2. Life is a mist.

II. Who are God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit?

1. Jesus Christ who has power over the life (v15)

III. What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations, and warnings?)

1. Truth of life

¹³Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." ¹⁴Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (v13-14) People often over-estimate their limitations, and also they do not understand the truth of life. They think they have power over their lives so they decide everything for themselves, including future plans. Life is actually like a mist, it could disappear at anytime. Therefore, we are not able to predict what is going to happen further in the future or even tomorrow. Thus, we always have to lay trust on our lord for our future.

Reflection: Could we understand that life is short and is like a mist? Some people describe life as: When we live, we feel like we will not die (not understand that life is short, only seeking for instance, and does not seek for everlasting); However, when we die, we give people impression that we have never lived (did not prepare for everlasting, and do not leave a mark) Could I understand this metaphor?

2. Attitude towards life

¹⁵Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." (v15) We should always live in God’s will. When we are facing our future, our plans, we should have the right attitude: we should surrender under God and ask for his permission. We live and behave with God’s permissions and his will. We should not ignore the presence of God, and made all decisions by ourselves.

Reflection: How do I think about my future? How do I plan? Do I pray and seek for God’s will before making decisions just as what James said,” asking for God’s permission.”

3. Pride is sin

¹⁶As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. (v16) People who has no God in mind, who is proud, especially who think they can control over their lives are sinners. Thus, people who plan things according to their mind are pride and evil because they have offended God.

Reflection: How do I think about life? Have I ever commit the sin of pride when I ignore God’s will and act according to my own mind?

4. Who knows the good and doesn’t do it, sins.

¹⁷Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (v17)

Being righteous is the duty of God’s people. We should behave according to the law- doing goods, for example, taking care of orphans and widow. A person who doesn’t do so is behaving against the law. In other word, he sins. According to the social standard, people who obey the law are considered irrelevant with sin. However, this is not what the Bible is teaching us. Bible has a higher standard. It teaches us the person who knows the good and doesn’t do it, sins.

Reflection: Do we have people around who need help? Do I have compassion and have I ever helped them? What kind of person am I according to Bible’s standard? Am I a righteous man or am I a sinner?