Living with an Eternal Attitude

James is the brother of Jesus and he is a Pastor. He is the pastor of the church of Jerusalem. Many people are scattered just like today since COVID. Many folks have never come back to church (anywhere) or even gone back to work. So James is writing to an audience that is similar to our situation.

We are going to look at James 4:13-5:11.

Here is the big idea.

James 5:8 NLT

8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.

The Big idea is that the Lord’s coming is near. There is an urgency in his writing. This idea is driving everything he is writing to us.

We need to have

An eternal attitude.

This is the key to living out all of this practical wisdom we have been learning in James. We can’t miss this.

Charles Spurgeon…

Unless we purposely live with a view to the next world, we cannot make much out of our present Existence.

Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth thrown in; Aim at Earth and you will get neither.

We have to catch this attitude. Attitudes are contagious. If you are around people with a bad attitude, it rubs off. If you are around someone with a good attitude, that also rubs off. There is a lot that’s been going around that contagious that we do not want to catch, but this is something we want catch, an eternal attitude.

We want to live infected with this attitude.

Pray - God we love you and open our hearts up to what you are saying to us tonight.

Ingredients of an Eternal Attitude

There are four ingredients to an eternal attitude and here is the 1st.

1. Our Time is Short

It’s a perspective.

James 4:13–14 NLT

13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

Look here - he is fixing to get in our face. It’s like a parent who is warning their kid. It’s like when your mom uses your whole name. Robert Knox Storey. You know they mean business when that happens. It is usually in a situation where we are about to get hurt and they are protecting us. It’s correction, but it’s good and that’s what is happening in this passage.

WE will - thats their attitude. They were self sufficient. Paul called it an earthly mindedness. We forget that life is short and we focus on this life and not eternal life.

Our life is just like fog that’s gone in moments. Eternity is forever. When you live for eternity, it changes the way you life.

The great theologian Tim McGraw said …

Someday I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying, like tomorrow was a gift, and you’ve got eternity to think about: What did I do with it?

Life is short.

Let me redeem myself. Here is Martin Luther…

“Live as though Christ died yesterday, rose today, and is returning tomorrow.”

Living that way will change what you do today. Here is how we can apply this in our lives.

What would I do differently if I only had 30 days to live?

If we think this through, God will direct what we should be doing.

2. Our purpose is God’s plan.

Our purpose is his plan, not ours. James hits this idea right here. Look at what he says…

James 4:15–17 NLT

15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

If the Lord wants me too… That’s what we need to say. God has a plan… even is all of this chaos we see today. We get lost in the moment, but God has a plan and none of what is happening has surprised him.

I love Eph 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

He planned good things for us to do before we were ever born. He came and lived on this earth and died for our sins so that we could do the things that He has planned for our lives.

If we have the urgency that Jesus is coming, then doing his will becomes our priority.

“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

We want you to know why God has you here. This is important. We need to find out why we are here and then do it.

James 4:17 NLT

17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

Maybe you are hearing this an thinking, I can’t do God’s plan…

I’m too young… the bible says not to let any one look down on you because of your youth.

I’m a new Christian - you were saved for this time…

I can’t do God’s plan, I have messed up too many times… Rom 8:1, there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. His gifts and call are irrevocable.

too old - Prov says it is the aged that have wisdom. Values and testimony. The younger folks need someone who has been following the Lord for 30 -40 years to say, hang int here … it’s going to be ok.

If you are breathing, God has plan for your life.

Check this out…

Do I know and am I living God’s purpose for my life?

If you are not, let us help you find that. Time is short.

3. Our possessions are not our own

God never meant for us to own anything. He gives them to us to use.

James 5:1–6 NLT

1 Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. 2 Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will testify against you on the day of judgment. 4 For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.

In America, we are all rich.

1. You hoarded - you have more than you need.

2. You have been unjust to those working for you - they didn’t pay people right.

3. You were using for yourself, not helping others.

The day of slaughter for the Jewish people was the day of harvest. It’s when they harvested their crops and animals. Then they would bring the first of that to God.

We are a NT church and we don’t have that law anymore. But the Spirit of it is still true. There is a blessing on bringing the first. Sometimes we think that the blessing is for God and it’s not, it’s for us. God doesn’t need our money or animals.

The blessing is for us because it breaks off the curse of self indulgence. When we bring our first, or out tithes, it breaks off the spirit that the enemy wants to put on us. We give and it breaks that curse and then we realize that we are blessed to be a blessing.

Generosity is to selfishness that kryptonite is to Superman.

Someone said this. A tithing Church will become a generous church and a generous church will impact eternity.

When we are generous, we realize that everything we have our talents… our time and our treasure is Gods. How can I use it for Him.

An eternal attitude wants to make a difference during the short time we are here.

Stats of what the church has done.

How can I be a blessing with my blessings?

There are so many ways we can be a blessing to others with our blessings.

Our time is short… Our purpose is God’s plan… our possessions are not our own

Here is the last one…

4. Our Trials are temporary

No matter what you are going through, it’s temporary. An eternal attitude says, to live is Christ to die is gain.

We are aliens and strangers here just put here to make a difference and then go to heaven.

James finishes this passage out.

James 5:7–11 NLT

7 Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. 8 You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look—the Judge is standing at the door! 10 For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

Patient - anyone besides me struggle with this. Another word that can be used here is endurance. Just endure. Don’t quit… on anything. How can we do that? Because we have an eternal perspective. The Lord is coming back soon. It’s like a rhythm. Endurance - Eternity.

In this passage, James shows us people who have been hurt. Not paid wages… killed unjustly. James said to be patient.

You too be patient and stand firm. But then he gives us a warning not to grumble. The enemy will try to creep in and sow discord and break unity. We cannot grumble against each other. When we do, we have lost the eternal perspective and we will be judged for it. Eternity is just around the corner.

Look at the prophets… God will alway accomplish his will. No weapons will succeed… he didn’t say there are no weapons formed, but they just won’t succeed.

It’s difficult to live with an eternal attitude with all of the chaos around us.

James closes this passage by saying God is full of compassion and mercy. These last few years have been years where God is revealing to us areas we need to invite God into that area of our lives.

Where do I need to invite God’s power to do a work in my life?

Prayer time

Whatever is that God is saying to you… Where do you need God to give you an eternal attitude - possessions, time, talents, trials, purpose

2nd prayer - Maybe you need to invite God into your heart. Invite Jesus into your heart.

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