BOASTING OF TOMORROW

PROVERBS 27:1

A. "BOAST NOT THYSELF OF TOMORROW; FOR THOU KNOWEST NOT WHAT A DAY MAY BRING FORTH"
  1. Our text offers a timely and wise warning, confirmed by this special service this afternoon:
    1. How many plan for tomorrow and never finish "today"
    2. Sorrowing friends, your loved one had made no plans for this service today
  2. The Bible and life itself teaches:
    1. That tomorrow is known to God and He alone determines it ` b. Man has neither the foreknowledge nor the power of tomorrow B. LET US, THEREFORE, TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE WORDS OF OUR TEXT
  3. Boasting of tomorrow is folly:
    1. At the best we can but calculate probabilities
    2. The man that never had a days illness may be suddenly laid low, struck down with a sudden heart attack, a car accident
    3. Our life is dependent upon so many unseen sources, and it is affected by so many complicated circumstances that no man can unravel the tendencies or predict the results
  4. Boasting of tomorrow is highly dangerous:
    1. Boasting of tomorrow leads to carelessness
    2. The man that is confident of tomorrow is likely to be off guard - that is when Satan likes to strike when least suspected; Examples: the enemy that sows the tares - Matt. 13:25; Our Lord's warning to Peter - Luke 22:31-32; King David at the unguarded moment - 2 Sam. 11:1-11
  5. Specific Bible warnings against making plans for tomorrow:
    1. The parable of the foolish rich farmer - Luke 12:16-20
    2. James warns against foolish planning that does not include God - James 4:13-17
    3. The folly of looking for tomorrow to be as today - Is. 22:13; 56:12
    4. Actually there is no tomorrow in this present life - "Today, if ye hear His voice harden not your hearts" - Heb. 3:7-9 C. A WISE COURSE TO FOLLOW
  6. Negatively:
    1. This is not to be found in cowardly shrinking from the future, nor is it to be had in a habit of despair, ever painting the days to come to be the blackest and most hopeless]
    2. That old adage, "Blessed is he that expecteth little; for he shall not be disappointed"
  7. The uncertainty of tomorrow places a special responsibility upon today:
    1. Live as if today is the last day of our life - Eccl. 9:10
    2. Live today as if my life today will determine my eternal destiny
    3. Enoch's walk with God meant that each day he ordered his life to be in harmony with God's eternal will - Gen. 5:22-24; Heb. 11:5
  8. We are well advised to heed the admonition of our text for several good reasons:
    1. Yesterday may have left some unfinished duties to be cared for today; Examples: Isaiah's admonition to Hezekiah - Is. 38:1; Eccl. 9:10; the lack of oil in the vessels of the five foolish virgins - Matt. 25 1-12
    2. The course of our life ends when death comes and we shall do well, if today we can say with Paul, "I am now ready, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith " - 2 Tim. 4:6-8
  9. The true antidote to unwise boasting of tomorrow:
    1. In the spirit of child-like trust in Divine providence - Ps. 61:4; 91:4
    2. Said James, "If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this or that" - James 4:15
    3. Said David, "Our days on earth are as a shadow and there is none abiding" - I Chron. 29:15
    4. "For he is thy life and the length of thy days" - Deut. 30:20
  10. The answer to the uncertainty of life:
    1. Be in a state of readiness at all times
    2. "Be ye ready" is the admonition of our Lord specially for those who live at the close of probation - Matt. 24:42-44
    3. The end will come upon the careless when they least suspect it - I Thes. 5:1- 6; Luke 21:34-36


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