SCRIPTURE:
“Now 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.” Why, 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. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
James 4:13-15
OBSERVATION:
Although these scriptures may seem to condemn business and money for the sake of wealth, it is a caution about self-sufficiency and pride, that we tend to do things on our own without God. I love how James lays out man’s plans in scripture 14 – 1) When “today or tomorrow,” 2) Where “this or that city,” 3) How Long “a year,” 4) What “carry on business,” 5) Why “make money.” James chastises man for thinking we can do it all on our own, then makes his point clear – “If it is the Lord’s will,” should be our first part of planning as believers.
APPLICATION:
What a great reminder for me in all my planning for my life, ministry, and activities to seek and put God first in prayer, asking for guidance through the Holy Spirit, and in the power and name of Jesus; even adding “surrender” to Him for the things that are burdensome. I realize that there is a propensity to just jump to planning and “figuring it out”, but knowingly, that would be doing my own thing. I feel such a sense of excitement in this moment to know that in all things, seek and put God first in prayer, and watch what happens.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, thank you for these scriptures that remind me of the simple yet profound intent of seeking and putting you first in all things. I pray that my plans would begin with prayer first and asking the Holy Spirit for guidance, help, and encouragement.
