Book of James - The Delusion of Self-Sovereignty

James 4:13-17

        In his study on this passage in the letter of James, Paul Tripp rehearses the account of a little girl named Anna. “Only in second grade, and Anna was already believing the delusion of her own sovereignty.”

“Little Suzie came home from school and said to her mommy, “Mommy, we have to wear party dresses tomorrow.” Mommy said, “Well, Suzie, is there a party tomorrow?” She said, “No, mommy. Anna told us that all the girls have to wear party dresses tomorrow, and I don’t want to be the only one who is not wearing a party dress.”

        Paul Tripp then concluded that “Anna, the self-appointed queen of the playground, [was] already a sovereign in her own eyes.”

       If you are a parent, you have encountered the delusion of self-sovereignty. If you are a husband or a wife, you have encountered the delusion of self-sovereignty. It is a deception that grips us all.

Although this passage was written in its original form to address the temptations that were there in the rapid growth of business and economy - many people say to Hellenistic Palestinian businessmen - this is a passage that is just modern in its field. This is a passage that confronts the philosophy of our western culture.

This passage, notes Tripp, is “apt for us as we live in Western culture, form fit for us as we are influenced by the philosophies and the values that are around us.” Join us this Sunday as we consider the pride of presumption and learn some principles for trusting the God of the universe for our lives daily.

For His Glory,

Pastor Wayne