- Joined
- Oct 26, 2007
- Messages
- 12,538
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"; 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. James 4:13-14 NKJV
Nowhere in the Bible are you discouraged from planning for the future. But God’s written Word includes many passages encouraging Christian men to submit all their planning to God. For example, King Solomon wrote, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).
In today’s scripture passage, the apostle James gave a New Testament voice to Solomon’s words. James wanted to remind his readers that they should always make plans with an eye toward their own limitations (you can’t know what will happen beyond today) and toward the will of God (who knows all things—even what will happen in the future).
That’s why the apostle followed today’s scripture passage with this sound advice: “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’” (James 4:15).
Prayer: Father in heaven, help me always to remember that my life here on earth is fleeting compared with eternity. Remind me that only You know what will happen in my life beyond this very moment.
Nowhere in the Bible are you discouraged from planning for the future. But God’s written Word includes many passages encouraging Christian men to submit all their planning to God. For example, King Solomon wrote, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).
In today’s scripture passage, the apostle James gave a New Testament voice to Solomon’s words. James wanted to remind his readers that they should always make plans with an eye toward their own limitations (you can’t know what will happen beyond today) and toward the will of God (who knows all things—even what will happen in the future).
That’s why the apostle followed today’s scripture passage with this sound advice: “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that’” (James 4:15).
Prayer: Father in heaven, help me always to remember that my life here on earth is fleeting compared with eternity. Remind me that only You know what will happen in my life beyond this very moment.
