“Today or tomorrow let’s go into the city, and spend a year there, trade, and make a profit. Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. For you ought to say, if the Lord eillsm we will both live, and do this or that. But now you glory in your boasting. All such boasting us evil. To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin” -James (Jacob) 4:13-17.
In the Bible James English Bible, the book of James is the Same as the book of Jacob in the Greek. For this post I will use James.
James emphasizes the truth that a life of faith is one of daily dependence on the Lord. Our day-to-day planning must always be done with the awareness that our minutes, hours, and days are subject to the will of the Lord.
When you’re asked about your dreams, plans, and goals for the future. What type of answer do you give? Whether it’s completing education, getting married, getting a new car, or getting rich, do you interpret life in spiritual consideration, salvation, spiritual growth?
Too many people place empathy in all the wrong places when they think about the future and what they will do with their lives. James rebukes the arrogance and self-sufficiency that characterizes people and describes life as a most that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Then adds our attitude at all times must be, to do as the Lord wishes to reach our goals with the blessings of God.
These words are not intended to minimize the need for planning and preparation for each day of our lives, but to stress the overriding importance of living each day in dependence on the Lord. James asks the question, “What is your life?” And then help to answer it.
We all have plans for our lives. How can we be sure that we plan our lives and live our lives in a way that is pleasing to God? James tells us how to look at life in a Godly way, but he also tells us about three problems to avoid.
1. The folly of the future. The problem with Presumption -James 4:13
2. The frailty of life -James 4:14
The second truth we see in this scripture is the fraility of life. “Why, do you not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanish away.
3. Faith is the only way to live -James 4:15-26
There is to be fervency of obedience. Anyone, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it sins.
These are some things I wish I had known these things earlier in my life. To commit your future to God is wisdom well beyond some people’s years.
We must learn to give primary emphasis to God’s will for our lives and to His divine destiny to have a blessed life.
From Pity to Praise 