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.

    

Conflict (Study on the Book of James)

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I’m not sure how I got away from our Bible study on the book of James, but this week, we’re finishing the study.  Today’s lesson is on the topic of conflict.  We all have conflict in our lives from time to time.  Some experience conflict more often than others.  Conflict can cause serious problems with relationships.  My notes are short this week but here are my notes taken from our pastor’s sermon at Blackshear Place Baptist Church.

Conflict:  James 4:1-12

Things to Avoid

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?  You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?  But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?  - James 4:1-12 

1. WE are the problem.  If we have conflict with our relationships, we probably have conflict in our hearts.
2. With conflict comes prayerlessness.
3. We are in conflict with God.

James 4:4 – You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?  Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

God is not interested in 2nd place.  He desires first priority in our lives.  He doesn’t want part of us.  He wants all of us.

God is the answer.  His grace is greater than (insert conflict).

Humble yourself before God and He will lift you up.


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