James 4:13-14‏

13. "Come now, you who say, today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city and spend a year there and carry on our business and make money."

Where is James going with this? "Come now"... Let's just consider what he says... "You, who say, I'm gonna do this or that". Where do we get these grand ideas? And by asking ourself that, already, we are thinking, "what do you mean?"... "God gave us a brain, and He expects us to use it". Yes, He does, but like many things He gives, we are starting to find out, since we've been saved, the purpose for them is not for what we've thought before. Our brain is for working out (understanding) what God want's us to do! How is it we can come up with what we are to do tomorrow and not even seek God's idea on the matter? Let's add another piece of truth to this problem, listen...

14. "Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air]."

Oh, we may assume our idea is great... but we forget how complex life is. It is complicated by so many forces, events, people, circumstances, all beyond our control. On God has the "box office seat"... He sees all the plays, the variables, so complex that it is beyond any man to either see the future or control it.

Another thing about ignoring God's will is that our ignorance brings about disaster, because life is fragile. Notice he says, ""for you are even a "atmis"... our word atmosphere came from this word. So not only is it foolish to plan out our days without God, since we can't control it, but it is foolish to try to live that way because you're canceling out the very thing which gives our life meaning... the work of God.

Let's pick up with James verse 4:15 next time.

I love you.