God willing…(R) (7/6/2023)
James 4:13-14 "Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." - NIV
James address people who imagine they control the course of their lives. They plan like everything depends on their good ideas, scheming and deals. Their confidence is in themselves. And they boast about it. The purpose of this reminder is that our lives and the ability to do what we do, and to achieve the results we get, lies beyond us. If we do not even know what lies in our tomorrow, nor have control over our lives, we certainly can’t boast and credit ourselves for it.
This does not mean we don’t plan and leave our lives to fate. We are to plan like everything depends on our planning. But let’s acknowledge that there is a Greater One, who knows and controls the future like everything depends on Him. It is to Him that we commit our plans. God operates and orders all things according to His plan and purpose for our lives (Prov 16:9, Rom 8:28).
We are limited as human beings in thought and plans. But God knows all things, the end from the beginning. His will is always the best, but sometimes we don’t know it, and that’s why James says in whatever we do we should say, ‘if it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ Such acknowledgement allows God to work what is best for us, and gives us the humility to recognize His working. Speaking by faith is good, but remember we only know in part and prophesy in part. God knows it all. Allow Him be God.
James 4:15-16 "Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil."
Shalom children of God.