The Folly of Tomorrow’s Boast
James 4:13-15
Point 1: The Certainty of Uncertainty
The Reality Check (v. 14a): James uses harsh language to confront this pride, stating a universal fact: "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring." The proud planners who painstakingly plan every step of their journey according to their own will are overlooking the single most fundamental reality of life: uncertainty. This is the height of foolishness.
Life as a Mist (v. 14b): James asks, "What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes." Our existence is transient; it appears and then disappears. If life itself is a mist, how permanent can our plans really be? When we spend our days building an empire on a foundation of fog, we are setting ourselves up for inevitable disappointment and a lack of eternal perspective.
Life Application: This week, evaluate your own long-term plans. Are you making decisions as though your life map is guaranteed? In what specific area are you placing too much faith in "uncertain potential" (e.g., career milestones, financial stability, health)? Take a moment to acknowledge the uncertainty of tomorrow and let that truth humble you before God.
Point 2: The New Posture of Submission
The Reverse Course of Action (v. 15): The verse begins with "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'" James is calling for a reversal of action and a shift in conviction. This is not a religious catchphrase, a "Hail Mary," or a philosophical view that negates personal effort.
Conviction Rooted in Sovereignty: This statement is rooted in the deep conviction that God is sovereignly in control of all things, over every decision, all our lives, and the future outcomes of our plans. This spiritual reality of God's control must be factored into all our decisions and lifestyles.
Existence and Activity in God's Hands: The phrase "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that" touches on both our existence ("we will live") and our activity ("do this or that"). It means our very existence and all our activities are ultimately in the hands of God. When we recognize that life is short and temporary, and that God is sovereign and in control, it is meant to lead us to one place: humbleness.
Life Application: Turn your everyday "to-do list" into a "Lord Willing" list. Don't just say the phrase, but let it reflect a deeply rooted conviction. When planning a specific event this week, consciously replace self-assured declarations with an acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. For instance, turn "I will finish this project by Friday" into "Lord willing, I will work diligently to finish this project by Friday."
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Point 3: The Moral Climax and the Sin of Omission
Boasting in Arrogance (v. 16): In this spiritual posture of humbleness, James introduces the moral climax: "As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." "As it is" reveals the current reality of the church, where, rather than living in humbleness, people continue to plan and act as though God does not exist. Boasting here is more than mere bragging; it's an arrogant, prideful decree: "I control this! I will do this!" This boastful way of living is evil because it completely leaves out the presence and providence of God.
The Sin of Omission (v. 17): James concludes with a universal, unforgettable proverb: "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." The sin of the proud planner is not what they did (make a plan), but what they did not do (the sin of omission). They failed to humbly submit to God. We all know the truth of God's sovereignty and the shortness of life. We know we should live by "If the Lord wills," yet we spend our days living like a godless planner. To fail to live out the truth you know is a sin of omission that carries the same weight as a sin of commission.
Life Application: Complete the spiritual task of turning your planning into prayers this week. Change the form of your plan from a decree to a request. This isn't about stopping planning but about allowing your "Lord Willing List" to acknowledge that whether you succeed or fail, God's sovereignty controls your livelihood and your actions. Reflect on the right thing you know you should be doing (like humbly submitting your future to God) but often fail to do. What is one boastful, self-assured declaration you need to repent of this week?
