Relying On Self And Not God

James 4:13

            “go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain”. Thinking you are self-sufficient and not relying on God is a great sin in God’s sight. Self-sufficiency is planning without God. James gives the reason why we should not rely on ourselves in Vs. 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”. In Vs. 15 James tells us what our attitude should be, “for that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that”.

            Most people boast that they are the ones who control their own lives and what takes place in the future. Young people makes great plans for what they want their life to be, thinking they have total control of their future. I Cor. 10:12, “wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”.  The wisdom of the world says trust in yourselves, the Scriptures says put your trust in God. The world says believe in yourselves, the Scriptures says believe in God.

            The world says you are wonderful, the Scriptures say you are a sinner, and unless you “repent”, you will “perish”. Luke 13:3. The world says you can do it, the Scriptures says let God do it. The world says, discover how wonderful you are, the Scriptures say discover how wonderful God is. The world says you need to change your attitude, the Scriptures says you need to change your heart.

The world says poor self-esteem is a sin, the Scriptures says self-esteem is a sin.

            Man feels that his own future lies in his abilities. Man feels capable of handling his own life. Look at verse 13 again.

1.  He plans the day of his departure, today or tomorrow.

2.  He is planning to go to a certain city.

3.  He plans how long he will stay there, “a year”.

4.  He plans to work and gives detail, “buy and sell”.

5.  He expects to make a profit. “and get gain”.

            We are to work while here on this earth, for God has so commanded. Gen. 3:19, II Thess. 3:10. Planning for the future without planning for where one will spend eternity is foolishness. Matthew 6:33, “seek ye first the Kingdom of God”.  Read also Matthew 6:19, 20, where Christ says our treasures should be stored. Always keep in mind I Timothy 6:7, “for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out”.

- CL Bruner