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13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend
a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what
will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes
away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live
and do this or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting
is evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it,
to him it is sin. James 4: 13-17 (New King James Version)
We all make plans for the future. We plan for college, we plan for marriage, we plan for retirement.
Making plans, of itself, is not wrong. As a matter of fact, planning is key to the success of any venture. However,
there is a right way and a wrong way to plan. THAT is what James is teaching in this passage.
The wrong way to plan is to ignore God. James speaks of those who say "I will do this
or that." "I will do business." "I will make a profit."
I...I.....I.....
Do you know what tomorrow will bring? Do you know if you will even be around when the sun comes up?
We all know of someone who has died unexpectedly.
James describes our lives "as a bit of smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes."
How fleeting is our existence, and yet, we are often arrogant enough to boast about our own plans, claiming to have the future
under control, yet never consulting God, or asking HIM what we should do. This is the boasting that James call
evil.
In contrast to this arrogance is the humbleness in which we should plan. "If the Lord wills," I will do this
or that. Christians should not fear the future. Instead, it should instill an awareness of how dependant
we are upon God. James is not ruling out planning. He says plan, but to do so prayerfully, keeping open to God's
will.
What of verse 17? Again, here is a verse that seems, at first reading, a little out of place. James is speaking
to the Christian community. In discussing the right and wrong way to plan, he is assuming that the reader knows what
is right and pleasing to God. So, knowing and not doing is sin. We often call this the 'sin of omission'.
We know we should pray about our plans, and remain open to God's leading, but we don't. We know we should help the poor
and downtrodden, but we don't. We know we should tell others about Jesus and what He has done in our lives, but we don't.
IT IS SIN. Kind of gets your attention doesn't it.
THINK ABOUT IT...
How far into the future have you planned your life?
What does this passage say to you about the plans you are making for your future? Where do you need God's guidance?
What future plans do you have that you need to release to God's leadership and guidance?
Take a moment to reflect on how verse 17 is true for your life, particularly when it comes to your work and career planning.
When have your 'buried your talent' and failed to do the good that you could have done? What is usually the reason you
don't do what you know you should?
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