James 4:13-17

The opening line in this passage has James calling us to attention, “No listen!”  Just in case we had “checked out” from his earlier topics, he wants all ears wide open for this one.  Why this topic particularly?

 

What makes businessmen and women especially appropriate as an illustration for this teaching?

 

How have you experienced the brevity of life (that our days on earth are as a “mist” quickly vanishing)?

 

James is not encouraging us to simply parrot back the words, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and so this or that” (:15).  So, what does this mean?  What should this look like in our every day life?

 

In what ways does this passage fit with the topic of pride that has been running through chapter 4?

 

In what ways is making plans without submitting them to God akin to “boasting and bragging?”

 

If this is an issue in your life, confess this to God (and to your group), calling it what God calls it…”evil” and “sin.”