Title: Do good-James 4:13-17
Contents
The writer of James points out the vain boasting of the scattered Jews, the Diaspora, throughout the text. Economic issues were the first thing to be resolved in other countries, so they plan to make money by doing business. But James rebukes them, saying, “Today or tomorrow we will go to any city, and stay there a year, and trade and find money.” Making plans for the future is not in itself a sin against God. So what's wrong? This is because the merchant was not at all interested in what was going to happen to him in the future. They were filled with only the idea of making money. God's will was not taken into consideration in the merchant's ambition. Not even interested. This is a sin.
We must do what God wants us to do. God's will is to do good. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good. Doing good should feel like a mission, not an obligation. When doing good becomes our mission, God's joy and grace come upon us. This is verse 17 of the text. “Therefore, if a man knows how to do good and does not do it, it is sin.” A Christian's good deeds is the act of accomplishing God's will and glorifying God. Therefore, James points out, knowing how to do good and not doing it is a sin. Goodness (善) should not stop with knowing, but should be done. To do good,
First, you must give up your worldly interests.
On September 11, 2001, the 110-story World Trade Center (WTC) building in the United States was bombed by a terrorist attack. There is a story behind the World Trade Center, which was called the Twin Towers. There was a real estate agent in New York. A man who had a hobby of owning famous buildings. So he made every famous building his own. He wanted to own the Twin Towers, one of New York's most famous buildings, but couldn't afford it. One day, while trying to achieve his will, he decided to rent for 99 years and paid a rent of 3.2 billion dollars. It is about 400 billion Korean Won. Unfortunately, six weeks later, the building was blown up and collapsed.
Verse 13: “Listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow, we will go to some city and stay there a year, do business and make a profit.” 'Listen', indicating that the recipients should be careful right now. Many people were making up a futile plan and clinging to it. James pointed out the attitude of the Jewish merchants at the time, and was obsessed with his own interests and God He pointed out to beware of foolish pride that ignores the will of
Second, you need to know the meaningless life.
Known as the Swedish Nightingale, Jenny Lind was an outstanding soprano who made a legend in the history of music. He was a very successful opera singer. But one day, while working at the top, he suddenly left the stage. Although she lost a lot of money, fame and the applause of the audience, she was content. One day, a friend finds her in the sand on the beach. I was watching the sunset with the Bible open on my lap. "Jenny, how could you leave the stage like that in your best heyday?" Jenny answered in a quiet voice. “The Bible made me feel that I lacked something in my day-to-day life.” Jenny put her hand on the bible and spoke again. "I have come to the conclusion that a life like this is like a setting sun over there. So how can I stand on stage any longer?" Pointing to the setting sun, she said. A life like the setting sun is just futile.
Verse 14. “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a moment and then disappears.” James in this text warns of the attitude of those who are blinded to their immediate interests while ignoring God's hand: 'What is your life? It means the limitations of human life.
Time moves as fast as an arrow. You get old, get sick and die faster than you think. out of control. Predictions are wrong. Human life is like a fog. Here, the Greek word for 'mist', 'atmis', means the worthlessness of life. We must realize that human life is also ephemeral and short, just as a thick fog disappears when the sun rises. We must no longer neglect or forget God by clinging to vain desires. Therefore, while you are alive, you must actively do good and live.
Third, we must refrain from vain boasting.
This is verse 16 of the text. “Now that you boast in vain, all such boasting is evil. Therefore, if a person knows how to do good and does not do it, it is a sin.” Jangsatgun in the text made a plan to do business and see it. But he did not know that life was in God's hands. A person who does not believe in God, believes only in his own strength, makes plans, and does false boasting After meeting Jesus, Paul declares that he will boast only in Jesus. What he had previously boasted about was considered excrement. Because he knew that Jesus Christ was the only source of pride. We, too, should boast that everything was by the grace of God. We must clearly understand that to boast in God is to do good.
Stephen Grellet was a French-born devout Christian who died in an American village in 1855. It would not have been known to the public if Grelet had not left the following words in his lifetime: He is remembered to this day for leaving a quote to be engraved. It means, "I'm only going through this world once. I'm not going to put off any good deeds or any kindness I can do right now, because I'll never pass this road again."
People say they regret three things when they die. "Be more patient, give more, have more fun". When the Lord calls you, I hope that you do your best to do good so you will not regret it. I hope you realize that God is more important than your own interests, life, or the pride of your flesh. So, I pray in the name of the Lord that all of you will become blessed saints who forsake worldly interests, realize the futility of life, throw away the pride of the flesh, and do the good God wants.