Day 13-The danger of living tomorrow 4:13-17

We are leaving in times where first speed lifestyle is the order of the day. Modernization and the current technology have left nothing to chances but that anyone who wants to catch up with the first world must plan ahead and must see ahead. In looking at the subject of the future James can be mistaken to say, it is not right to think or plan things ahead. No. It’s always good to project for the goals and the dreams that we have.

With all these in mind, there is a great temptation to take things for granted and view things just as normal or as usual. Saying things will still happen like they did yesterday. That we shall do this and that like we did yesterday. It sounds good because by doing these we are positive about what is to come.

On the other hand, James is giving us caution in Ja 4:13-14a, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, and carry on business and make money ’,‘ why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.”

His caution is not a condemnation to those who plan ahead because of course without planning there can be no results. A farmer who doesn’t prepare for planting can’t see the harvest in his/her mind. He must project everything ahead of time and after planting he can now wait with expectation for the good results. The scriptures records people who planned about what they wanted to do. E.g. Paul, “Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea”. 2 Cor1:15-16.

In verses 14b James says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. This means everything we are and do is in the hands of God. He knows all that will happen tomorrow while we do not know a thing about tomorrow. We must not therefore, put our trust in our plans or in the things we are planning for. We must always put our trust in the Lord.

James encourages that, “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”.

In acts 18:21, Paul promised, “I will come back if its God’s will”. And also in 1Cor4:19, “but I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing”.

When we trust the Lord for our future, we’ll not need to fear even about the present because the Lord will take care of everything. Our boasting therefore should be in the Lord. We should not boast about our success or else we will be taking the praise that belongs to the Lord. If we praise our success and work we sin. In verse 17 James says that when we fail to do the good we ought to do and do not do, we commit sin.