Having just finished telling his readers about the need for them to avoid the wisdom of this world that is hostile to God, James gives a practical example on how to approach life in a different way than the world does. (READ TEXT)
Verse 13 illustrates the planning of one who has not thought to consult God. Note the thoroughness of his planning: His schedule for what he has planned - “Today or tomorrow”; His location for what he has planned - “this or that city”; The duration of what he has planned - “spend a year there”; The activity he has planned - “carry on business”; The result he has planned - “make money.”
Now, there is nothing wrong with making plans.
“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.” - Proverbs 16:9 (Amplified)
Our Lord made plans.
“The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit.” - Luke 10:1 (NLT)
Jesus had plans by which He lived; but notice how those plans were developed.
“But Jesus replied, ‘My Father is always working, and so am I.’ So Jesus explained, ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by
himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.’” - John 5:17; 19 (NLT)
In the same way, we need to walk with the Father so that we might catch hold of the vision He has for us and then plan accordingly.
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
- Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
Now, James shares three rules about properly planning for tomorrow.
1. Avoid pride - v. 14
We are what we are by the grace of God alone. Therefore, we mustn’t be prideful about our abilities or plans, but trust humbly in God.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” - 1 Peter 5:6 (NIV)
The focus of one who is humbly walking with God isn’t on themselves, but God. Our focus must not to be “what’s in it for me” but “where is God leading and how do I follow?”
The reason why too many believers today do not experience much of God is because they are living their lives with the focus being on
themselves and “what’s in it for me” rather then living with their focus on God by asking “where is God leading and how to I follow?” It was living with His focus on the Father that enabled Jesus to say:
“I have glorified You down here on the earth by completing the work that You gave Me to do.” - John 17:4 (Amplified)
The degree to which this will be said of us will be determined by whether or not we live with our focus on God or on ourselves.
Two key principles to God-centered living:
“Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” - Psalm 37:4-5 (NKJV)
A. What I delight in will develop my desires - v. 4
If I delight in myself, I develop selfish desires; if I delight in the world, I will develop desires. If I delight in the Lord, I develop godly desires.
B. Who I depend on will determine my destiny - v. 5
God will not only show me what things should be priority in my life, but how I should go about addressing them; and as I give priority to those things god has in mind for me, my life will be lived to the full!
A story is told about a professor who stood before his class and took a large empty jar and filled it with rocks about two inches in diameter. He asked the students if the jar was full. They said, “yes.” He then picked took pebbles and poured them into the jar. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks. Then he asked if the jar was full. They chuckled and agreed that it was indeed full this time. He then took sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled the remaining open areas. “Now,” he asked, “Is the jar full?” Again, they answered, “Yes.” Finally, he took water and poured it into the jar. It willed in between the grains of sand. “Now,” he said, “This jar is full.”
This story is used to speak about priorities - the rocks are the important things in life, the pebbles, things of lesser importance, the sand, the trivial things, and the water, even less important things. But how does one know how to prioritize and organize the things of life? The key is the professor! In this story, he represents Christ, who said:
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” - John 10:10 (NIV)
Is your life full? Only God knows how our life should best be invested. Therefore, let’s avoid pride in our planning and humbly look to Him, living God-centered, rather than self-centered lives.
2. Avoid presumption - vs. 15-16
We must never presume about tomorrow, for we cannot see beyond the next moment with any certainty. The fact is that you and I do not know how much time we have left. It is only God who knows the future. Therefore, we must look to Him.
Everything in the universe operates by to laws. If we cooperate with these laws, then the universe works with us. If we disobey these laws, the universe works against us. For example, certain laws govern flight. The engineer who obeys them in designing an airplane, and the pilot who obeys them laws in flying the plane, will have the joy of seeing their plane fly. But if they disobey the laws that govern flight, the result will be a crash. God’s will for us is comparable to the laws of the universe, with this exception: those laws are general, but what He has planned for our lives is specifically designed for us. This is why Paul said in Romans 12:2 that “God’s will for you . . . is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Now consider this law regarding our living a God-centered life that delights in the things of God and the doing of His will:
“You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:7b-9 (NLT)
We can face the uncertainty of life with confidence, if we’re sowing obedience to the revealed will of God, for we will be focused on doing what is right with the time we have.
A seminary professor was asked what he’d do different if he knew Jesus would return that day. He replied, “Nothing. Because I’m convinced I am doing exactly what the Lord wants me to be doing.”
3. Avoid procrastination - v. 17
Even though we might feel He has implanted a long-term dream in our hearts, we must act according to His guidance each and every day if that dream is to come to pass. For example, if a young believer feels as though God has placed in their heart the dream to be a doctor or a missionary or a teacher or an engineer one day; that doesn’t mean there are things that the Lord doesn’t have in mind for them to do today!
Too many, procrastinate when it comes to seeking and living according to God’s plan for their lives because they think it is only something that can be done AFTER (fill in the blank) - “after the kids are grown,” “after I finish college,” etc., etc. Now it may be true that you could be in a better position later, but that will only be true IF you do certain things today!
The opportunities of tomorrow result from the obedience of today.
Conclusion: The difference between worldly planning and godly planning is not only the source: self vs. Savior; but in the
substance: temporal vs. eternal.
Regardless of the world’s estimation of the value of your life, God’s plan is that everyone one of His children can live lives of eternal
purpose and significance.
“You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit, the kind of fruit that will last.” - John 15:16 (Easy to Read)
No matter who your are or where you’re from; your skill set; your disadvantages; your opportunities; whether single or married; rich or poor; as a Child of God, your life can be one of eternal significance!
Don’t make the mistake of having a saved soul but living a wasted life!
Put God at the center of your plans!
