Building a Faith that Works:  the Book of James

Working Together with God
 James 4:13-17

The Danger of Presumptuous Living

The Pleasure of Dependent Living

When we involve God in our lives:
 
1.  We build our priorities around  what’s important (4:13-14)

Motives & Money

James 4:13-14

               “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.”

2.  We get direction from the one who’s important (4:15)

God & Goals

James 4:15

               “Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

3.  We realize why dependence is important (4:16-17)

Pride & Punishment

James 4:16-17

          “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.”

Illustrations

Fear of Death
 

The Pillsbury Dough Boy. Cute. Cuddly. And wanted for attempted murder.

Well, not exactly ...

A woman in Arkansas was sitting in her car in a parking lot last year when she heard a loud bang and then felt a sharp pain in the back of her head. She was holding her hands behind her head when someone walked by and asked, "Are you OK?"

The woman answered, "I've been shot in the head, and I'm holding my brains in."

Well, it wasn't her brains.

It was dough. A Pillsbury biscuit canister had exploded in the back seat, apparently from the heat, making a loud explosion and shooting the dough into the back of the woman's head.

So, this woman in Arkansas got bashed by a biscuit. What's next? Muffin muggers? Toast thieves? Cookie cons?

I'm on a "roll" now ...

Citation: "Strange World," Campus Life, Vol. 56, no 2

Part of God's Plan
 

I have a sign in the mirror of my room I see it every morning in my groggy condition, when I first wake up: WHAT HAVE YOU GOT GOING TODAY, GOD? I'D LIKE TO BE A PART OF IT. THANKS FOR LOVING ME.

I have to find my place in God's plans, rather than make my own little plans and then ask God to support them: "Come on, God, give me an A in this course. Come on, God, do this for me." Instead, I pray, "What have you got going today, God? You love this world. You loved this world into life. You created this world. We're all yours. What's my part in the drama? What part do you want me to play? I will play any part you say. Want me to be a success? I'll be a success for you. Want me to be a failure? I'll fail for you. Whatever you want."

That's the condition of successful prayer.

Citation: John Powell, "Prayer as Surrender," Preaching Today, Tape No. 108.

Making the Most of Every Opportunity
 

My mother and I arise early on Saturday mornings to catch all the garage sales. One typical Saturday we spotted a garage sale that seemed to be just opening for business.

We quickly walked into the man's garage and began looking over his wares. After a few minutes and several stern looks from the solemn-faced garage owner, he asked if there was anything he could do for us.

"This is a garage sale, isn't it?" my mother asked timidly.

The gentleman chuckled, somewhat relieved. "No," he said. "I was just cleaning out my garage. But if there's something you want, let me know."

We did--and now he's five dollars richer.

Citation: Teri Leinbaugh, Shelbyville, KY, Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."

Presumptuous Praying
 

Some people think the prayer of faith is crawling out on a limb and then begging God to keep someone from sawing it off. But that is not real prayer, that is presumption. If God makes it clear that he wants you out on a limb, fine--you will be perfectly safe there. If not, it is presumptuous to crawl out on that limb, expecting God to keep you there.

Citation: Ray C. Stedman in Man of Faith. Christianity Today, Vol. 40, no. 7.