The Umbrella

James 4 cont'd:

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.

We’re coming to the end of chapter 4 in James, and we are not instructed to not make life plans?  Really? 

I don’t think this is saying to not make plans.  We have to plan ahead, save for our kids’ college, make wise decisions regarding our jobs and future, etc.  But note the part where it says “spend a year” and “engage in business” and “make a profit.”

Those kinds of priorities – where we dictate to God and everyone around us just how “we” are going to be rigid on our own timelines, spend our time engaged and engrossed in our jobs in order to make money – are not wise.

Remember, these verses come after stern warnings to repent and humble ourselves before God.

Part of that  humility is remembering that our lives are like a vapor – they appear for a short time on the earth – and then we’re gone.

All of our plans, our timelines, and our profits must come under His plans, His timeline for our lives, and His blessings, for His glory.

When we pray about our future, our jobs, our families, and all that pertains to ensuring a safe and happy live here on earth, we must be reminded of why we are here – to worship and bring God glory.  And everything we do must fall under that umbrella.

We’ll read the last verses of James 4 tomorrow.