Daily Bible Reading – 10.14.2021
James 4:13-17, 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.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
James addresses the issue of pride and how it comes known in our boasting about our plans. He speaks to those who are overly confident in what they are going to do, where they are going, and how they will make money in the future.
He wonders how can we be so confident when it is impossible for us to know what is going to happen tomorrow. We know life can change suddenly for the good or the bad. It can bring opportunity or take it away.
In fact, he reminds us of what we do not want to be reminded of, just how mortal we are.
He speaks of our lives as a mist. We’re here one day and gone another. This is rather dark and depressing. However, he wants us to realize that our attitude toward life and God matters. He wants us to know that what we say matters as it reflects our understanding of who we are in relationship with God.
He gives us the appropriate humble Christian attitude and wording to speak about our future. “If it is the Lord’s will.” In all things, as believers, we desire to be within the will of the Lord so we must not boast about our future plans as though there is nothing that could stop us from accomplishing them.
So, if we know this is the appropriate attitude and speech for Christ-followers in our relationship with God and yet do not follow the Lord’s will, he tells us plainly, we have sinned.
Questions to Consider:
How do you react to James’ comment that you are just a mist? Do you need to change your attitude or your words to humble yourself regarding the Lord’s daily will for your life?
Weekly Memory Verse:
James 4:15, Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”