REAL FAITH SURRENDERS TO GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
There’s so much chaos and uncertainty around us right now, and it’s only getting worse with shocking new developments around the world— that’s the bad news. But the good news is, God is still on His throne, He’s in control and still has a plan for us. He still has a word for us today as we look at our passage in James.
SURRENDER OUR PLANS
James was writing to a group of believers who were going about their lives and making plans. Yet we do not really know what will happen in the future (James 4:13-14). A different passage in Luke has the same thought, in a parable Jesus taught (Luke 12:16-20). There are numerous references to “my, myself, and I” in this short parable, but God was not in the plan of the rich man in the story. When God is not in the picture when we make plans, it’s practical atheism! We don’t even know if we’ll be able to fulfill those plans. Instead, we ought to say, “If you want me to, Lord, then I will do it.” (Proverbs 19:21, James 4:15-16). We are to surrender our plans to the Lord and do His will (Psalm 37:5).
How do we discern God’s will? We need to look at the following:
1-God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s will cannot contradict God’s Word.
2-Prayer (James 1:5).
3- Godly counsel (Proverbs 15:22). Ask people we respect, especially those who have experience in the area you need discernment for.
4- Providence (Proverbs 16:9). Be sensitive to what’s happening around you, how God may be showing His will to you.
5- Peace from the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). His peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit; it has to be the whole fruit.
Ask God to show you the way to His will as you surrender your plans to Him.
SURRENDER OUR ACTIONS
We might know God’s will, but are you doing it (James 4:17)? If we know the right thing to do but we’re not doing it, that is sin. Selective obedience is also disobedience. We are to be doers of the Word (James 1:22). Otherwise, as Jesus warned us, we will receive dire consequences for our sin (Luke 12:47).
Do we have a “selective obedience checklist” — actions we know we should do but aren’t doing such as sharing the gospel (Mark 16:15), making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), forgiving (Matthew 6:14-15), worrying (Philippians 4:6), consuming content (Philippians 4:8)? Surrender your actions, obey what God wants you to do right away.
SURRENDER OUR WEALTH
James also called out the wrong things that the wealthy Jewish believers were doing (James 5:1-6). The Bible is not against wealth, but we need to watch out for how we handle resources. Are we hoarding or accumulating too much from online shopping, etc.? The problem could also be that we are exploiting other people. Pleasures can also get misdirected, or we live excessively. The Bible instructs us to place our hope in God, not in riches, to do good works, be generous and store up “treasures in heaven” (1 Timothy 6:17-19, Matthew 6:19-20). Here are some practical ways to surrender wealth to God:
From hoarding to strategic giving for building God’s kingdom. From exploiting/abusive to doing good works (volunteer to serve in ministries, start your own Dgroup). From misdirected desires to hope/dependence on God, and from an excessive lifestyle to eternal investing. Remember, God prospers us not to increase our standard of living, but to increase our standard of giving (Randy Alcorn). In what ways can we steward God’s resources better? Make a commitment today to surrender all “your” wealth to God, and to use His wealth the way He wants you to.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What plans do I need to surrender to God?
What do we know God wants us to do, but are not doing?
In what ways have you trusted in money more than God?
PRAY CARE SHARE IN ACTION
Pray for more people to learn and practice surrender to God’s sovereignty. This week, choose one point of surrender (plans, actions, wealth) and act on it to be a blessing to those who still need to know Jesus.
Share the gospel as part of your obedience to God’s plan for your life.