James (series 10): Playing God

Playing GodPlaying God

Speaker: Doug Humphrey Senior PastorSpeaker: Doug Humphrey Senior Pastor

13 Now 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."

14 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.

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

16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.

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

God

Man Man

I. We play God when our planning excludes Him.

A.The mindset of homo-deus (Latin for man-god)

B. The Rules of the Game

The Homo-Deus Mindset

Man imagines himself to be the final authority over his life and then lives as

if it were true.

The Rules of the Game

Rule 1: Choose your own time and schedule so that they work primarily for your own benefit.

13 “...Today or tomorrow”


Rule 2: Select your own location: one that pleases you.

13“...this or that city”


Rule 3: Limit your stay to please yourself.

13“...spend a year there”


Rule 4: Predict your profit and boast about it.

13 “...carry on business and make money.”

16 “As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.”

22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Proverbs 15:22

5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5

What is James Warning Against?

(1) Planning that leaves God out of the picture.

What are you Modeling for Your Kids?

When your stated values conflict with what you want to do, which one wins out??

3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs

16:3

21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.

Proverbs

19:21



(2) Pursuing money as an end in itself.

24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Matthew 6:24

Ask Yourself…

1) Do I frequently find myself desiring what others have? (covetousness)

2) Am I discontent with, or resentful of others good fortune? (envy)

3) Do I sometimes compromise my integrity to increase my take home pay?

Ask Yourself…

4) Do I engage in compulsive buying?

5) Do I sacrifice relationships or other God-given responsibilities to earn more money?

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

Hebrews 13:5-6



(2) Pursuing money as an end in itself.

(3) Arrogantly thinking that you can secure your own future.

17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me."

18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth...

Deuteronomy 8:17-18

12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:12,13

II. We play God when we ignore our limitations.


A. We have no knowledge of tomorrow.

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow…


A.We have no knowledge of tomorrow.

B. We have no assurance of a long life.

14b …You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.


A.We have no knowledge of tomorrow.

B. We have no assurance of a long life.

C. We have no right to ignore God’s will.

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

The Bottom Line

We play God when our planning ignores God’s will

and our limitations.

Application/Challenge

Prayerfully acknowledge God in your planning by maintaining Biblical priorities.


1. Do a spiritual check:

• Will this decision bring glory to God? (1 Corinthians 10:31)

• Is this a decision Jesus would make? (1 Peter 2:21)

• Will I be proud of this decision at the judgment seat of Christ? (Romans 14:10-12)


2. Do a relational check:

• Would I want this done to me? (Matthew 7:12)

• Will this decision adversely affect those in my relational circle spiritually, emotionally, or financially?

• Will this decision appear wrong to someone even if it is right? (1 Thessalonians 5:22)


3. Do an internal check:

• Will this decision bring me under the power of something? ( 1 Corinthians 6:12)

• Can I do this with confidence that it is right? (Romans 14:22-23)

• Am I breaking any previous commitments? (Matthew 5:37)

James (series 10): Playing God

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