Clayton Family Website

Live Like You Were Dying

(James 4:13-17)
  1. Introduction
    1. We often hear,"life is short, better enjoy it!"
      How about, "Eternity is long, better prepare for it!"
    2. Parable of the rich man
      Luke 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
      Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
      Luke 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
    3. Song "Live Like You Were Dying"
    4. The song makes the statement "Some day I hope you get the cahnce to live like you were dying."
    5. How would our lives be different?
    6. James 4:13-17 our lives are but a vapor
      James 4.13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
      James 4.14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
      James 4.15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
      James 4.16 But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
      James 4.17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
    7. Psalms 90:10 & 12 we should number our days
      Psa. 90.10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
      Psa. 90.12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
  2. The spouse we should be
    1. Ephesians 5:22-33
    2. Song "If Tomorrow Never Comes"
  3. Be A Friend A Friend Would Like To Have
    1. Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
    2. Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
  4. Read the Good Book
    1. II Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
    2. II Timothy 3:15-17
      II Timothy 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
      II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
      II Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
  5. Loved deeper and spoke sweeter
    1. Ephesians 4:31-32
      Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
      Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
    2. Colosians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
    3. James 4:11 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge
    4. Angry Words - "Angry words, oh let them never from the tongue unbridled slip. May the hearts best impulse ever check them ere they soil the lips."
  6. Give Forgiveness I Had Been Denying
    1. Matthew 18:21-35
    2. Matthew 5:23-24
      Matt. 5.23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
      Matt. 5.24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
    3. James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
  7. Conclusion
    1. Eccl. 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
      Eccl. 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Gospel