Motivate Me Monday

Do you have those places in the Bible where you've seen them taken out of context so many times that they almost irritate you a little? And, you're tempted to skip right over it...

I've been studying the book of James, which I love!!! I have really enjoyed getting in deep with this book. I haven't read more than two sections a day, and often times I take multiple days to really dig in and learn all that I can. There is so much in just five little chapters!

Last Thursday the title of the section of Scripture for the day was, "Boasting About Tomorrow," James 4:13-17.

Boasting About Tomorrow

13Now 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." 14Why, 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. 15Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

~NIV~

Nothing but a Wisp of Fog

13-15And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, "Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money." You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, "If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that."

16-17As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.

~The Message~

The first part that grabbed my attention was in verse 14:

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.

This is so true. We don't know what tomorrow will bring. We don't even know what the next hour holds for us or our loved ones. What we can take comfort in is knowing that God does know our future, and He has worked it out perfectly according to His will. Does this mean we'll live perfect lives? Uh, no. Absolutely not ... unfortunately.

I understand what James is telling his readers. We should not allow our own selfish ambitions to dictate how we live our lives. We need to always remember that God is the one who sustains our lives, that each day's twenty-four hours are not "ours" automatically, that God controls time and gives it as one of his good gifts, and that we would be already blown away in God's judgment were it not for his mercy. The biblical worldview is that "we receive another day neither by natural necessity, nor by mechanical law, nor by right, nor by courtesy of nature, but only by the covenanted mercies of God" (Motyer 1985:162). (Commentary by InterVarsity Press.)

However, although we don't know what tomorrow brings, we still need to plan ahead. We need to have some kind of vision, or else you have nothing to strive towards. I know that I need to pray that my vision for my future aligns with God's plan for me, but I also need to remember that things may happen along the way. While this may set me back a little, I still need to look ahead and find where God is leading me. I might need to ask what God what He is teaching me during these trials, and figure out how to get back on track, or be willing to realize that the Lord has altered the course, and I'm heading in a new direction.

Writing these things scares me a little because it makes me wonder how God is going to change directions. Who is He taking away? My husband, my daughter, my parents, me? Although I let these thoughts creep into my thought life, I cannot allow them to consume my thoughts.

The second part that stuck out was in verse 15:

"If it is the Lord's will..."

Used in the right context, I absolutely agree with this, but I've heard it used as an excuse.

"Could you help me in the nursery?"

"Lord willing. Let me pray about it."

I have some friends who are missionaries working in Muslim countries. Questions they ask are often times answered in this way, and this phrase is an excuse!

"When will the workers be back to finish the roof?"

"Whenever Allah allows."

Again, I understand what James is saying. WE are not the ones who plan our days. Only God knows what our future holds for us. He is challenging us to rely solely on God and not on ourselves or our schedules.

First, it would be a superficial spirituality to think that James's instruction is fulfilled merely by sprinkling our speech with "the Lord willing." At the same time, we should not judge those who do use this phrase; if it is done humbly as a way to keep oneself reminded of God's sovereignty, it can be a godly practice. Second, it would be a deformed spirituality to apply this by refusing to do any planning; 4:15 affirms the validity of planning to do this or that. Motyer writes, "James is not trying to banish planning from our lives, but only that sort of self-sufficient, self-important planning that keeps God for Sunday but looks on Monday to Saturday as mine" (1985:161). The spirituality James wants for us is a humble reliance on God which flows from knowing that one is in reality dependent on God for every moment. It is yet another example of how James would envision the manifestation of grace-reliance in our lives.(Commentary by InterVarsity Press.)

The reason that this passage bothers me is because people don't really take the time to understand what James is saying. We must have plans, but we must be willing to bend to God's will. And using His will as an excuse for not doing something was never James' intention. Let's accept what comes out of tomorrow and plan for the next day...God willing!!!

SIDE NOTE: As I was finishing this up, my mom called to tell me that my dad has prostate cancer. Talk about timing. He is fine. The tumor is very small, completely contained, and slow-growing. It will be removed in March. We serve a big God, and He knows what my next hour holds...