Deo Volente (God’s Will)
James 4:13-17
July 23, 2023
How many decisions do you think you make in a given day? From the simple of what to wear and eat for breakfast to the more significant decisions.
Let me ask you - - - How many of you have purchased homes in your lifetimes? How many of you have worked? How many of you have taken a vacation or will take a vacation this year? Who has bought a car?
For the youth — have you bought a scooter, bike, TV, computer, phone, play station games, or decided whether or not you’ll play a certain sport or act or anything like that?
Thanks! Now, I have one more question, it’s one I want you to think about, because it is what today’s scripture is about.
When you bought your last car, your house, began a new job, or decided on a vacation — did you pray about it?
Have you prayed about your retirement -- what you’ll do or how you’ll finance it? Have you prayed about the upcoming school year? Have you tried to discern and understand God’s will for today, tomorrow and the coming months?
The scary thing is - - - most of us don’t consider God in the midst of our everyday plans. The majority of us, me included don’t seek God’s guidance and will in our purchases -- let alone in the major events in our lives.
I’m not talking about what color socks I should wear, I’m talking about marriage, children, career changes, new cars, houses, vacations and so on. How do you make those decisions and plans?
In fact, I’m guilty! We went to Ohio this weekend to see Zachary. A quick trip Friday night to Saturday night. He had plans for us. But were they God’s plans? I don’t know, because we really didn’t consult with God. I did during the past week, and didn’t hear a NO, so I felt it was good to go.
When buying something, it’s easy to just walk into the store, or look at Amazon and buy what you want or need and be done. Yet, even when you have the money, what goes into considering what to do or not to do?
Sometimes, it’s do I really need to upgrade my TV from a 64" to a 100". From 2K to 4K? Do I need the newest phone? We can ask lots of questions and in fact, we can drive ourselves crazy asking ourselves questions, but the question is . . . are we seeking God’s blessing and wisdom when we make these decisions?
Of course, making plans is normal and acceptable. If we would like to succeed in life, we must make plans. It’s been said if you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never get there. We must plan for retirement, saving money for homes and cars and college tuition. We hope to find a career path which is fulfilling. Plans are a vital, vital part of life. But the question James is asking us is God involved in those plans?
Let’s look at what James is telling us in the final 5 verses of chapter 4 - - - -
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—
14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
Making plans is biblical. Paul often made plans regarding his travels. See Acts 15:36; 18:20-21; 1 Co 16:5-9. In 1 Corinthians 16:7, Paul states, he hopes to spend some time with the people of Corinth, “if the Lord permits.” And in Acts 18:21, he adds, ‘he will return to Ephesus, if God wills.’ Do you see what Paul was doing? He wanted his plans to be contingent upon the Lord’s plans.
In Colossians 1:9, Paul reminded the people to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will AND in Ephesians 5:17, he wrote ‘don’t be foolish, but understand God’s will’.
What I hear in what Paul was saying is this . . . And for me it was more of a revelation. Understand, I’m still growing and hopefully will always be growing in Christ. Paul was making plans, but he was always willing to adjust course, to adjust his plans if he heard from God not to do something.
For example, we read in Acts 16 - - -
6 And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
7 And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
8 So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, CONCLUDING THAT GOD HAD CALLED US to preach the gospel to them.
What I hear from this passage is a couple of things . . .
1.) Paul was so in tune with God that he knew when the Spirit was telling him not to go somewhere. He had that sense of intimacy we long for with God, and Paul was able to use that to help him know where to go and when.
2.) Paul was able to discern what God wanted him to do. He not only heard, but he listened. That’s not always easy, because the message isn’t always what we want to hear. I don’t know what the ramifications would have been if they went where God said NO, but they followed God’s directions.
So, when we make decisions we must seek God’s will and learn to understand the plan He has for us. Even Jesus reminded us in Luke 14:28 that we must make plans when we build a home or go to war. God has nothing against making plans.
James is telling us people were making plans about how they were going to accumulate more money. They had plans to go to this town and that town, make a few million and move on and make a few million more in the next town. Their plans were set.
James wasn’t against making money, he’s against making definitive plans and not allowing God to have any say in those plans. The people were making plans as if God didn’t exist. Instead, they should be prayerfully making their plans. They need to be alert to the possibility that God will change those plans, moving them in a new direction. One they had not anticipated, but one that will ultimately prove more fruitful.
Generally speaking, we’re torn about including God in our decisions, because we aren’t sure we’re going to like what God has to say. It’s giving up control. And that’s not easy. So, we make our plans for things we believe are good, but we don’t understand that God may have better things in store for us.
The people were making plans without considering what God wanted for them. Then they would boast about what they were going to do. James reminds them that they don’t know what tomorrow may bring, in fact, tomorrow may not come.
This is similar to Jesus’ parable of the man who has an abundant harvest and builds new barns so he could retire, relax, eat, drink and be merry (Luke 12:16-21). Again, nothing wrong in what he wanted and hoped for. Nothing wrong with his plans, but the point of the parable is that this man made plans without regard for God and was only counting on what he could personally do.
James tells the people that life is like a mist or a vapor. We’re here one minute and gone the next. Knowing that should lead us to a greater reliance on God, but who really wants to face their mortality?
That’s not meant to be a downer! It’s a fact, life is short, so embrace it, live life to the fullest. Don’t let the world bring you down. Yes! Bad things will happen! We’ve all been there, but James wants us to recognize that God has great plans for us. And God even wants to protect us from making bad decisions, just as he did with Paul. So, use the power of God that you have within you through the Holy Spirit.
In my Thursday Bible study we were talking about Romans 5, how God pours His love into our hearts through the Spirit - - - - and it’s this constant pouring into us that we receive from God. That’s what helps us with the intimacy and connection.
It reminds us God is with me, He’s for me, He’s not against me, He’s not a party pooper who wants to kill all my fun! God loves a great party! He’s all about praise and worship and rejoicing and celebrating life! Make sure to invite Him!
So, James reminds us that we can make all the plans, some great, some lousy, but we have no guarantee of the future.
But if we know God is in control, then we don’t need to fear the abrupt changes in our plans. Listen to the wonderful words God told the prophet Jeremiah,
11 For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11
You see, God has a plan for us. They are very real and very definite plans. If you were to read letters that Christians wrote 100 years ago, you would have noticed the postscript: D.V. These two letters stand for the Latin words,
Deo Volente - - - which means "God willing." That goes right along with verse 15, James tells us, “Instead you ought to say if the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
The point is simple: we cannot live, learn, or look unless the providential will of God deems it. Maybe we should take up the practice of the believers of the last century, and say, D.V., "If the Lord wills." And funny enough we do make similar statements. You know, we talk about tomorrow saying, ‘if the Lord wills and the creek don’t rise.’ We joke about it. We aren’t to distant from the people James is writing to when he tells them instead of asking for God’s will, they boast and brag about their plans.
The point isn’t to make you walk out of here feeling guilty and disconsolate. The hope is to bring us just a little closer to God — to help us become more authentic in our faith in Christ — to be shining examples to the world.
Imagine I think about taking a vacation. So, I block out days on my calendar. I get all excited about our destination. I book that vacation with nonrefundable tickets, because it was cheaper.
Then one morning I wake up and start packing. I grab my speedos, my vacation clothes and Debbie walks up to me and says, “What are you doing!?”
I tell her - - - “Oh, I booked us a vacation. It’s all planned. The limo is coming in an hour. Get packed.” She is looking at me, with that look, that says, ‘mama ain’t happy!’ So, I ask her, “What’s the matter? Don’t you want to come?”
And she says, “What do you mean? You never told me about it and didn’t ask me? I can’t come! I’m working today and tomorrow.”
Of course, I respond with great sensitivity and say, “You’re spoiling my plans! Your job is to come with me and have fun.”
We do that with God all the time. We make our plans, then expect him to tag along—and bless them.
So, how do we begin to make changes so that God becomes a priority in our lives? How can we make statements like Deo Volente -- God Willing? Very simply put, I believe it all comes through daily discipline.
In many respects doing the basics will get us there —
1. As you read the Bible you’ll discover and uncover more of God’s truth in your life. As you learn, you’ll begin to apply what you’re learning and seek to please God more than yourself.
2. As you pray, use the acronym PRAY — Praise, Repent, Ask and Yield. Note the last one, YIELD. When you yield to God you are seeking Deo Volente, His will, not yours.
3. Be in relationship with other Christians. As you trust other brothers and sisters in Christ, you may find these people are passing on God’s message to you, helping you to discern His will.
There are a few things to take away from this wonderful passage from James —
1. Life may be short, your plans may not come true. It’s ok!
2. Make plans for your life. But seek God’s will in them.
3. Read the Bible. Come to Bible Study.
4. Pray and seek God’s will.
5. Be still and listen to God.
6. Be in relationship with other Christians.
7. God has GREAT plans for you!
8. God will never fail you. He will never abandon you!
It sounds like a lot of hard work, yet once we discipline ourselves, finding God’s will won’t be so foreign to us. It’ll come easier than we think. My dear friends, leave this place excited about the future God has planned for you -- plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
