{"id":1176,"date":"2024-09-16T20:31:47","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T20:31:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/?page_id=1176"},"modified":"2024-09-16T20:31:47","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T20:31:47","slug":"cmon-man","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/cmon-man\/","title":{"rendered":"C’MON MAN!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

C’MON MAN!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

James 4:13\u201317<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was growing up, I was a huge Florida<\/strong> State<\/strong>, college football fan. And during my middle school days there was a great defensive player who lined up against some of the greatest wide-receivers of his day and always outplayed them.\u00a0His name was Deion<\/strong> Sanders<\/strong> (although he referred to himself as \u201cNeon<\/strong> Deion<\/strong>\u201d). Today you may know him by his other nickname, Prime Time.<\/strong> Well, the truth is, he was as good at talking as he was playing the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, he had an illustrious career in the NFL<\/strong> and played from Atlanta<\/strong>, San<\/strong> Francisco<\/strong>, and Dallas<\/strong>. But when his days on the field were through \u2014 he found himself on TV commentating on the game. Deion<\/strong> eventually developed a segment on ESPN<\/strong> where he would observe the games and the players, and then show highlights<\/strong> (or maybe<\/strong> lowlights<\/strong>) of players failing to live up to their potential on the field. And this segment was called: C’MON MAN!<\/strong> It was his response of disappointment that a player just hadn\u2019t fulfilled his charge, or hadn\u2019t played at the level to which he was capable, or maybe a player had just not given his best \u2014 and Deion would shake his head and say: C’MON MAN!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, today we\u2019re going to continue our study of the Book of James.<\/strong> And in today\u2019s passage (in the end of James<\/strong> chapter 4<\/strong>), James<\/strong> seems to be looking at the church and how many professing Christ-followers are living \u2014 and I get the feeling that James<\/strong> is reviewing the game tape of our lives and is just shaking his head and saying, C’MON MAN!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

He says, while we may profess a faith in God, the way we are living is demonstrating a self-reliance that seems to deny God\u2019s very existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This kind of living reflects what some have called a \u201cpractical atheism\u201d.<\/strong> It is not that we fully embrace or even proclaim a total denial of God \u2014 but rather that we demonstrate a lack of faith in Him by our actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And James<\/strong> seems to look at that kind of faith, shake his head and say, \u201cC\u2019MON MAN!\u201d <\/strong>And so, his challenge to us today is to whole-heartedly reject this temptation and instead, demonstrate a genuine faith in God by living totally dependent upon Him!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have your Bible<\/strong>, turn to James chapter 4 <\/strong>with me. We\u2019ll begin reading in verse 13<\/strong>. Here James writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13 <\/em><\/strong>Now listen, you who say, \u201cToday or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.\u201d <\/em>14 <\/em><\/strong>Why, 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. <\/em>15 <\/em><\/strong>Instead, you ought to say, \u201cIf it is the Lord\u2019s will, we will live and do this or that.\u201d <\/em>16 <\/em><\/strong>As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. <\/em>17 <\/em><\/strong>If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn\u2019t do it, it is sin for them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

James 4:13-17 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, in this passage, James<\/strong> is challenging us to live at a higher level. He\u2019s encouraging us to let God direct our lives \u2014 and to allow our proclamations<\/strong> (what we say we believe) to be congruent with our practices<\/strong> (how we live). He\u2019s saying to make sure your ORTHODOXY<\/strong> aligns with your ORTHOPRAXY<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He\u2019s saying, let your walk reflect our talk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because, there are great consequences to living without acknowledging God\u2019s existence \u2014 or at least His relevance.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And to this, James<\/strong> says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. IT LEAVES US TOTALLY UNPREPARED.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    According to James<\/strong>, when we plan our days and our lives without an consulting God<\/strong> in prayer, it\u2019s like living without faith. It\u2019s as if we really don\u2019t believe in His existence, or our need for His direction in our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To make decisions about our future without giving consideration to God\u2019s<\/strong> plans<\/strong> or even God\u2019s care \u2014 we end up living our days unprepared for what may come. James<\/strong> is speaking in the context of those who are planning on how to make money, how to do business in certain areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To be clear, James is not against making plans. James is speaking to those of us who boast in our own plans \u2014 and never consult with God. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He\u2019s saying that we can have all the plans in the world, to work, to build, to travel, to make money, to do whatever we want \u2014 but the fact remains that none of us knows what tomorrow will bring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He\u2019s reminding us that this life is fragile at best. Things can change in a moment. We\u2019re all just one<\/strong> breath<\/strong> away from eternity. And so, to live without acknowledging God<\/strong> in how we live \u2014 is FOOLISH<\/strong>. It\u2019s like walking blindly into the dark and hoping thinking we\u2019ll never run into any problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In verse 14<\/strong> James<\/strong> says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    14 <\/em><\/strong>\u2026you 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Seems like just yesterday you were a child \u2014 and today you have one of your own. How is that possible, except life goes by so quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And our days continue to speed up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some of you work really hard to prolong your life. You eat right, work out, walk and run consistently, you sleep well and watch out for the stress that enters your home. You do all you can to guard your life in order to prolong it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    And all of that is great \u2014 as long as you realize that death is the inevitable end for our human existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It was the great American poet \u2014 Dr. Seuss <\/strong>who once wrote,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How did it get so late so soon, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It’s night before it’s afternoon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    December is here before it’s June. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    My goodness how the time has flewn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    How did it get so late so soon?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What Seuss<\/strong> is saying is that this life is short \u2014 yet we spend our days as if we have an unlimited number of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    That\u2019s why James says, our lives are like a vapor.<\/strong> They are here for a little while \u2014 and then they are gone. So live well<\/strong>, but never overlook the brevity of our days. And while short, understand that we have no REAL<\/strong> control<\/strong> over how many days we get.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    He says, your life is like the fog in the morning. Like a mist<\/strong> that appears for a while and then is gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you want to make your moments matter \u2014 then put God<\/strong> first<\/strong> and seek<\/strong> Him<\/strong> regarding the use of them. When you plan your life without Him \u2014 you live unprepared for tomorrow or the eternity that is coming your way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    James<\/strong> says,  there are very real consequences<\/strong> to living our days without acknowledging God\u2019s<\/strong> presence<\/strong> or purpose <\/strong>within them. And the<\/strong> first<\/strong>, is that it leaves us unprepared for life and eternity.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Another consequences to living without acknowledging God\u2019s existence is that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. IT LEADS US INTO ARROGANCE!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      James<\/strong> says in verse 16 <\/strong>\u2014 when we plan our days and our nights without considering God\u2019s Will . . . it causes us to become overconfident (thinking that WE ARE IN CHARGE). He puts it this way. He says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      16 <\/em><\/strong>As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Any planning that you do without considering God<\/strong> \u2014 are nothing more than arrogant schemes. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s what Proverbs 27:1<\/strong> means when it says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cDo not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Proverbs 27:1 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It\u2019s foolish<\/strong> to<\/strong> live<\/strong> our lives as if all of our days<\/strong> are<\/strong> under<\/strong> our control,<\/strong> because we simply have no idea what tomorrow may bring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      While we may think that we know everything, we would do well to remember the old adage, \u201cFATHER<\/strong> KNOWS<\/strong> BEST<\/strong>!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And our Heavenly Father<\/strong> certainly does. To believe that we stand in control all the moments and movements of our lives is arrogant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Some people think \u2014 that certain things require us to consult with God, but that other things are left up to us. Those who believe this tend to categorize their lives into different boxes for SACRED and SECULAR. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      But we need to remember that all of life is sacred.<\/strong> So live your days under God\u2019s guidance \u2014 rather than your arrogance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Someone who didn\u2019t seem to understand this reality was the late poet William Everest Henley.<\/strong> Henley was a well loved poet, but he seemed to revel in his arrogance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In one of his most famous poems \u2014 INVICTUS<\/strong>, (written in 1895<\/strong>), he writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Out of the night that covers me, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Black as the pit from pole to pole, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I thank whatever gods may be <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            For my unconquerable soul. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In the fell clutch of circumstance <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            I have not winced nor cried aloud. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Under the bludgeonings of chance <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            My head is bloody, but unbowed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Beyond this place of wrath and tears <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Looms but the Horror of the shade, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And yet the menace of the years <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Finds and shall find me unafraid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      It matters not how strait the gate, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

            How charged with punishments the scroll, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      I am the master of my fate, <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

            I am the captain of my soul. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Listen, there are many in our world who think and live like Henley<\/strong> \u2014 but not us. We belong to God<\/strong>. We have a different \u2014 and more clear perspective of our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      We must reject the temptation to live like PRACTICAL ATHEISTS<\/strong> and heed the wisdom of James 4.<\/strong> For if we live any other way, we live like<\/strong> fools<\/strong>. Because, while we may not know what will happen tomorrow \u2014 we can be certain that God will be with us!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      So come life or death or pain or pleasure \u2014 let\u2019s live every day putting God<\/strong> first<\/strong>. Because there is more to this life than living and dying. More to this life than planning and scheming. More to this life than fame or fortune. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And even the longest<\/strong> life<\/strong> is still but a blip<\/strong> in<\/strong> time<\/strong> when compared<\/strong> to<\/strong> eternity<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Life Is Short<\/strong>. Eternity Is Long<\/strong>. So let\u2019s live Like It.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      So, there are very real consequences<\/strong> that come our way when we live our days without acknowledging God\u2019s<\/strong> presence<\/strong> or purpose<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u2014 It leaves<\/strong> us<\/strong> unprepared<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u2014 It leads<\/strong> us<\/strong> into<\/strong> arrogance<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      And lastly, James<\/strong> says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n
      1. IT CAUSES US TO MISS OUT ON GOD\u2019S BEST!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Even if all your plans go exactly the way you want them to, and you do manage to amass a great fortune, or you have the perfect family, or you built a great company. Then what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        The result of this kind of living is that we it leads us to miss out on God\u2019s best. And when we fail to live out what we know God wants\u2014he says, for us . . . it is SIN<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Sin, isn\u2019t so much what we do \u2014 as much as it is MISSING<\/strong> THE<\/strong> MARK<\/strong> of God\u2019s best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        He has a plan and a purpose for us, and when we aim our lives at others TARGETS<\/strong> and fail to aim for the goals and purposes that he wants for us, we MISS<\/strong> THE<\/strong> MARK<\/strong>. We miss out on God\u2019s<\/strong> best<\/strong>. And James<\/strong> simply calls this sin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Listen again to verse 17<\/strong>,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        17 <\/em><\/strong>If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn\u2019t do it, it is sin for them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        James 4:17 (NIV)
        <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        You see, We tend to view sin by what we do \u2014 wrong or evil actions. But James<\/strong> says that sometimes SIN<\/strong> is what we don\u2019t do. It\u2019s sinful for us to plan our lives WITHOUT<\/strong> GOD<\/strong>. It\u2019s sinful for us to IGNORE<\/strong> GOD\u2019S<\/strong> WORD<\/strong> and strive to find our way through this life on our own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        To reject God<\/strong>, and ignore His plans \u2014 in lieu of our own, it is SIN<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        James<\/strong> indicates that this is SELFISH<\/strong> living. Choosing our way over God\u2019s<\/strong> is never a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


        A perfect example of this is found in the story of Jonah<\/strong>. If you recall, God<\/strong> directed<\/strong> him<\/strong> to go to Nineveh<\/strong> (a pagan city) and call them to repentance. But Jonah<\/strong> didn\u2019t want to do that \u2014 because he knew God<\/strong> was<\/strong> gracious<\/strong> and would forgive them. So, he ignored God\u2019s<\/strong> plans<\/strong> for his life and choose to go a different way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And as it is for you and me, Jonah missed out on God\u2019s best!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        So, James<\/strong> says, seek<\/strong> God<\/strong> first<\/strong>. Don\u2019t reject His best. And in light of the reality that God<\/strong> has a purpose and plan for us to live out \u2014 we should pray the prayer of Moses<\/strong> prayed (as recorded in Psalm 90:12). He prayed saying,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \u201cTeach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Psalm 90:12 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Since life is a gift from God, it should not be wasted in riotous living. God did not make us for that purpose. God created man to serve and glorify Him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        So, as James tells us \u2014 there are very real consequences<\/strong> to living our days without acknowledging God\u2019s<\/strong> presence<\/strong> or purpose<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \u2014 first of all, it leaves<\/strong> us<\/strong> totally unprepared<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \u2014 secondly, It leads<\/strong> us<\/strong> into<\/strong> arrogance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \u2014 and lastly, it causes us to miss out on God\u2019s best!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        So how should we live?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Well . . . James<\/strong> suggests that there\u2019s a better with to live. He says: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        >> ALWAYS PLAN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD\u2019S WILL IN MIND!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        There\u2019s great comfort in the fact that no matter how your life turns out in terms of what the earth values, if you follow the Lord<\/strong> faithfully, you will have a life of significance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If you\u2019ve given your life to Jesus<\/strong>, follow Him with trust and follow Him with humility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        In verse 15 James <\/strong>says, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        15 <\/em><\/strong>Instead, you ought to say, \u201cIf it is the Lord\u2019s will, we will live and do this or that.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        One of the central components to every decision that we make and every plan we set ought to be that we first ask, \u201cWhat is God\u2019s will in this matter?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        If we believer Jesus is Lord<\/strong> of All! Then we must live like He is Lord of us! And it ought to lead us to pray:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \u201cGod, in regards to this situation \u2014 what would you have me do?\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \u201cHow should I respond?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Bottom Line: So, the bottom line is:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Live today for the Lord \u2014 <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        and trust the Him with your tomorrow.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        CONCLUSION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        While James<\/strong> may have reviewed the game tape of those of his day and found himself shaking his head \u2014 saying, C’MON MAN! <\/strong>It\u2019s my prayer that you and I will live differently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        May we always be wise enough to plan \u2014 but do so only by seeking God\u2019s Will<\/strong> and His direction for our lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        And come what may, may we always trust in Him and live our FAITH FORWARD!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        CLOSING PRAYER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Would you stand with me as we prepare to close in prayer?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        C’MON MAN! James 4:13\u201317 When I was growing up, I was a huge Florida State, college football fan. And during my middle school days there …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1176","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1176"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1176\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1178,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1176\/revisions\/1178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}