13Now 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.” 14Why, 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. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's
will, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast and
brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good
he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.
So is it wrong to make plans and set goals? No, that’s not what is being said here. There is a right and a wrong way to do
anything. This study is a continuation
of the preceding Scripture on the importance of true humility. As such, humility is characteristic of the
truly wise (3:13). It is in humility
that we experience God’s grace at work in our hearts and lives. It is serving in a true spirit of humility
in reaching out to others that allows us to see God’s grace work not only in
our own hearts and lives, but also in fruitful results as we reach out to
others. As we care and share in true
humility, God can bless as the pride the pollutes is cast aside, allowing us to
be open, honest and sincerely serving in a right spirit of humility!
The opposite spirit of false pride in place of humility is addressed
here, as implied in the question immediately preceding this new passage: "But you--who are you to judge your
neighbor?" It is
natural for James now to confront directly the opposite of humility, which we
refer to as arrogance. I doubt if
anyone listening to these comments or reading them would not be able to
understand the damaging results of the spirit of arrogance. It is the spoiled child who feels that he
knows better than the parent, demanding to have his or her own way and to do
whatever he or she desires, regardless of parental care or instruction.
It reminds me of the man that I talked about in the previous
study that showed me his estate, bragging that he’d done it all himself, - that
no one had done anything for him, - that he’s done it all himself. As he showed me his estate, he spoke so
arrogantly that I felt compelled to tell him that God had indeed given him
the health and the strength and resources to accomplish what he had
accomplished… and I went on to explain, “And God can take it away from you just
as quickly as He has allowed you to have it… and don’t you ever forget
it!” I wish that I could tell you that
it had gotten the right response. No. It didn’t.
In fact, the spirit of arrogance remained. All that I could do was to pray for him after that.
So, James says, “Listen!”
Pay attention! If you don’t get
anything else, get this! Take it to
heart! Don’t brush me off! And most important, don’t let your arrogant
hearts prevent you from knowing God’s will and direction in your own heart and
life. We can develop ideas that we
think would be really great. However,
if we fail to pray and to seek God’s will in our hearts and in the directions
of our lives, we may very well be setting ourselves up for failure! We need to prayerfully seek God’s Word and
God’s will, trusting the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, anoint and direct our
pathway of life. To do otherwise sets
us up for almost certain failure. And
none of us really want to fail. There
is no need to fail when we allow Him to have control of our hearts and
lives. There is no need to fail when we
prayerfully seek God’s direction for our futures!
It is the attitude of the heart that James addresses, in 4:13,
which he reveals is exposed as deception in 4:14: “Why, you don't even know what will
happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little
while and then vanishes.” Life is short! We only get one go at it! If we take a match and light it, then blow
it out and watch how fast that the smoke quickly dissipates, we can compare
this to the brevity of our own lives in line with time and eternity. This is not a dress rehearsal. We can’t come back and do it again. No, this is really it. And while we can’t take back sins and
wrongful choices of the past, we can repent and commit ourselves wholeheartedly
to surrendering our hearts and lives for God’s ultimate will and direction for
the rest of our lives. He can do it so
much better than we can. So, just
let Him do it! Let the Holy Spirit have
His fullness within us as only He can do once we’re totally committed to His
saving and sanctifying fullness!
Hallelujah!
Questions For Reflection and Direction:
1.
When
planning ahead, what is the right way to do it?
2.
What is
so important about seeking the Lord’s will ahead of our own?
3.
Why is
our realization of the brevity of life so important?
4.
What is
to be our guideline for making future plans?
5.
What
happens when we know what we should do and fail to do it?
6.
What
should we do to avoid falling into such sin as this?
7.
How do
we best yield to God as our ultimate authority?
As we pray today?
1.
What
are the most relevant truths that speak to you from this Scripture today?
2.
How can
you most effectively apply such truths to enable you to be a more effective
Christian?
3.
How do
you feel that sharing this word with others can benefit them the most?
Please note:
You are welcome to share this Bible study in your local churches, but I suggest that you personalize it. You do not have permission to publicize it or to make money from it in any form. May God richly bless you as you minister for Him with rich spiritual rewards of seeing many souls saved and sanctified for all eternity! Please let me know whatever helpful results you may get from this!
With Warm Sincerity in Jesus’ Love,
Rev. Don Schink, Pastor-Evangelist
Sonlight Ministries
Tijeras, NM
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