Priorities (Bible Study on the Book of James)

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Today’s lesson from the book of James is on the topic of priorities.  These are my sermon notes taken from our pastor’s study at Blackshear Place Baptist Church.

What was Jesus’ priority?

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. – John 4:34

Priorities  James 4:13-17

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.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.  You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.  Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. - James 4:13-17

Our priorities are right when we don’t play God.

Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today. – Deuteronomy 8:11

Our priorities are right when we don’t presume tomorrow.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. – Proverbs 27:1

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. – Proverbs 16:1

Life is unpredictable and brief.

Lord, make me to know my end
And what is the extent of my days;
Let me know how transient I am.
Behold, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my lifetime as nothing in Your sight;
Surely every man at his best is a mere breath.
Surely every man walks about as a phantom;
Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them.
(Psalm 39:4-6)

Our priorities are right when we don’t put off today.

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matthew 6:34

 “Stress is like a rocking chair.  It keeps you busy but you get nowhere.”

You'll find all my posts about this study on the book of James here.