In light of the unexpected death of Lynette Elam last week (on Tuesday, September 5^th), I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to share a message of pastoral encouragement from James 4:13 – 17 for this past Sunday.  I entitled the message, “Make the Most of This Life!”

The Apostle James gives us at least four primary thoughts to consider from vv.13 – 17:

• One, we have no knowledge of tomorrow (v.14a).
• Two, we have no assurance of a long life (v.14b).
• Three, we have no right to ignore God’s will (vv.13, 15).
• Four, we have no entitlement to waste the time and opportunities which God has provided us in this life (vv.16 – 17).

At the outset of this message, let us be guarded against drawing some false conclusions concerning what this passage of Scripture does, and does not, teach.  James does not rebuke diligent planning, honest business practices, a strong work ethic, careful provision, or well-earned gain in these verses.  The book of Proverbs alone provides ample encouragement and instruction to us regarding the responsibility to provide, and plan, for the future.  However, this passage of Scripture exhorts us to live this life from an eternal perspective, and to redeem the time and opportunities God has provided us in this life.  I am convinced that the Lord wants to instill this truth within our hearts and minds on a daily basis— under the authority of the Lordship of Jesus, make the most of the life we have been given. 

When you were a kid, did you ever stick your finger (or two) in a clear glass of water just to look at the shape and size your finger(s) would reflect while in the water?  I would say that most of us probably did something like that at some point in our childhoods.  I am sure you noticed that your finger would make an impression within that glass of water.  But, as soon as you would remove your finger, that water would fill right back in over the impression your finger had once made.

This illustration serves to describe what our lives on this earth are like.  We are here but for a moment, as “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  The impression we make in time is only but a moment, and then time will quickly fill in as we pass on into eternity.  Let us be diligent to live this life from God’s perspective, and with His purposes in view  (Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations, p.90).

Consider with me five truths in relation to living life from God’s perspective.  First, I want to point out the complexity of life (v.13).  Let us be honest here— “life happens,” at times, does it not?  The unexpected, unwanted circumstances of life can come crashing down on the normal routines of our lives and change our perspectives of life, and our plans for life, in what seems to be but a moment.  Proverbs 27:1 speaks to this truth, saying, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

The complexity of this life serves as a poignant reminder for us to live this life of faith under the authority of the Lordship of Jesus, and by doing so, to make the most of the life we have been given.  “Make the Most of This Life!”

Second, let us also consider the uncertainty of life (v.14a).  Turn in your Bible to Luke 12:13 – 21, which reveals Jesus’ teaching through the parable of the rich fool.  Take time right now to read that passage.  The rich man in this parable made three dangerous mistakes:  1)  he placed a greater priority upon his body at the expense of his soul; 2)  he mistook himself to be his own god; and 3),  he presumed to have unlimited time in this life without any regard for the nearness of eternity. 

The uncertainty of life should compel us to live this life of faith under the authority of the Lordship of Jesus, and by doing so, to make the most of this life we have been given.  “Make the Most of This Life!”

Third, let us now look to the brevity of life (v.14b).  During the early part of our pastoral ministry, a former pastor of my wife’s home church invited me to preach the last revival meeting he would host as a pastor.  His name was Dwight Watts.  One day during that week, as we were driving around the area Dwight shared something with me that I have been able to hold onto within my mind.  He said to me, “Allen, you are at the beginning of your ministry, and I am about to close out 44 years of pastoring.  If the Lord tarries long enough, one day you will be where I am.  And I am telling you, it goes by way too quickly. 

I want you to think about something; think about a person’s tombstone.  On one side of it is a date indicated when that individual was born.  On the other side of it (or, maybe under the listing of the birth date) is the date of that person’s death.  And what is in between those two dates?  A dash.  A simple dash.  Allen, that dash represents your life, and your ministry.  Be careful how you fill in the “dash” of your life, because it doesn’t take very long to do so.”

That was good advice then, and it is good advice even today.  Look up the following Scriptures:  Job 7:7a, Psalm 39:4 – 5, and Psalm 144:4.  Someone once coined this phrase:  “The days may be long, but the years are short.”  Perhaps that is the essence of what both Job and David meant by their statements.  The brevity of life should urge us to live this life of faith under the authority of the Lordship of Jesus, and by doing so, to make the most of this life we have been given.  “Make the Most of This Life!”

Fourth, let us spend some time meditating upon the simplicity of life (v.15).  This verse says, “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’”  The simplicity of this life of faith can arguably be narrowed down to the following three principles:  1) The Great Commandment— cf. Mark 12:28 – 31.  This speaks to the priority of our relationships with God and others in life.  2) The Great Commission— cf. Matthew 28:19 – 20 \ Acts 1:8 \ 2 Corinthians 5:17 – 21.  These passages remind us of our responsibility to live out this life of faith as “ambassadors and witnesses for Christ” by faithfully carrying out the work of evangelism and discipleship on a personal level.  3) The Great Exchange— cf. Romans 8:28 – 29  &  12:1 – 2 \ Galatians 2:20 \ Colossians 2:6 – 10  &  3:1 – 4 \ 1 John 3:2.  These passages declare to us that God has an overriding purpose for each of our lives, and that is to conform us into the image and likeness of His Son, Jesus.

God’s purpose for you and me is to conform us to the very image and likeness of His Son, Jesus.  May each of us purpose within our hearts to live out this life of faith under the authority of His Lordship, and in so doing, make the most of the life we have each been given.  “Make the Most of This Life!”

Lastly, James shares with us a fifth precept worthy of our attention when he addressed the opportunity in life (vv.16 – 17).  Jimmy Draper, a past president of LifeWay Christian Resources, was mine and Karen’s pastor during our seminary days.  During one of his messages, he shared with our church family a bit of wisdom his own father had shared with him earlier in his life.  Dr. Draper’s Dad told him these words regarding a ministry decision he was facing at the time:  “The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized during the lifetime of the opportunity.”

So it is with life itself.  In order to make the most of the time and opportunities afforded us in this life, we need God’s wisdom to do so.  We also must choose to “walk circumspectly”— that is, we must live out this life of faith with “purposeful intentionality.”  We must be guarded against merely “going through the motions” of life.  Let’s make our lives count not only for the “here and now,” but also for eternity.  That is our opportunity in this life.  So, again, may each of us purpose within our hearts to live out this life of faith under the authority of His Lordship, and in so doing, make the most of the life we have each been given.  “Make the Most of This Life!”

In closing this week, I want to leave us with three “life lesson” statements to prayerfully meditate upon:

• We must take full advantage of the time and opportunities afforded us in this life— don’t waste them.

Ephesians 5:15 – 17— “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

• We must intentionally invest our lives in those things which are eternal— for there is more to this life than this life!  Matthew 6:19 – 21— “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

• If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing now.  James 4:17— “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

Beloved, under the authority of the Lordship of Jesus, make the most of the life we have been given.  “Make the Most of This Life!”

Anchored to His Faithfulness,

Pastor  Allen