FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY (9 OF 12)
by Keith Krell
Scripture: James 4:13, James5:6
This content is part of a series.
For A Limited Time Only (9 of 12)
Series: Put Your Faith to Work
Keith Krell
James 4:13-5:6
This past week my family received a huge box in the mail in anticipation of Christmas. The gifts were sent from Marion Hansen, a parishioner from our former church. She even included gifts for a couple from our present church, whom she met on a visit to see us. Marion sent gifts ahead because she has cancer, and next week she is going in for major surgery. Marion wanted to ensure she was able to send out all her gifts before Christmas. When her large package arrived at our doorstep, it was marked: ''Fragile: Handle With Care!'' When we noticed that Marion spent $21 on postage, we made sure to carefully treasure the presents inside the box.
Marion is an extraordinary woman. During the time that I served as her pastor, she wrote me many encouraging emails and always signed them the same way, ''A Grateful Sheep.'' She has a passion for the Savior and appreciates the gift of life. She exemplifies what it means to model the slogan: Life is fragile; handle it with care. James 4:13-5:6 provides two ways that you can handle your life with care.
1. Avoid arrogant presumption (4:13-17). Woody Allen likes to say, ''If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.'' Here, James warns against playing God with your future. He writes: ''Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit''' (4:13). ''Come now'' (age nun) is a jarring expression used in diatribe conversation. It is likely that James is referring to a group of traveling Christian merchants who have their future mapped out. They make four declarative ''we will . . .'' (future tense) statements. They have decided: (1) when they are going (''Today or tomorrow''), (2) where they are going (''such and such a city''), (3) how long they will stay (''spend a year there''), and (4) what they will do there (''engage in busines ...
Series: Put Your Faith to Work
Keith Krell
James 4:13-5:6
This past week my family received a huge box in the mail in anticipation of Christmas. The gifts were sent from Marion Hansen, a parishioner from our former church. She even included gifts for a couple from our present church, whom she met on a visit to see us. Marion sent gifts ahead because she has cancer, and next week she is going in for major surgery. Marion wanted to ensure she was able to send out all her gifts before Christmas. When her large package arrived at our doorstep, it was marked: ''Fragile: Handle With Care!'' When we noticed that Marion spent $21 on postage, we made sure to carefully treasure the presents inside the box.
Marion is an extraordinary woman. During the time that I served as her pastor, she wrote me many encouraging emails and always signed them the same way, ''A Grateful Sheep.'' She has a passion for the Savior and appreciates the gift of life. She exemplifies what it means to model the slogan: Life is fragile; handle it with care. James 4:13-5:6 provides two ways that you can handle your life with care.
1. Avoid arrogant presumption (4:13-17). Woody Allen likes to say, ''If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.'' Here, James warns against playing God with your future. He writes: ''Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit''' (4:13). ''Come now'' (age nun) is a jarring expression used in diatribe conversation. It is likely that James is referring to a group of traveling Christian merchants who have their future mapped out. They make four declarative ''we will . . .'' (future tense) statements. They have decided: (1) when they are going (''Today or tomorrow''), (2) where they are going (''such and such a city''), (3) how long they will stay (''spend a year there''), and (4) what they will do there (''engage in busines ...
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