James 4
March 21, 2022
“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. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” (v13-15)
At first glance, this passage seems to be condemning planners. But that wouldn’t square with verses like Proverbs 16:3, where it says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Upon closer reflection, James is not condemning planning; he’s condemning presuming. James is confronting believers who are forgetting the sovereignty of God in their plans, who are failing to consider the possibility that God has something else in mind for their future - since “we do not even know what will happen tomorrow” (v14).
Lord, I praise You today and acknowledge that You are sovereign - over the affairs of the universe and the details of my life. You know my tendency to plan, which can be a good thing - as planning reflects You, One who makes plans (Jer 29:11; Eph 1:11). But You also know my tendency to try to press those plans into existence, sometimes failing to seek You about whether or not my plans align with Your plans. Forgive me for my presumption, and grow my trust in You and the plans that You have for my life.— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
