Read James 4:13-16
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.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. (James 4:13-16)
“See you tomorrow DV” – Deus Volens being the Latin words for “God willing”.
This passage does not mean that we should not make plans for the future. But it reminds us of the fact that our life here on earth is 100% dependent upon God.
In our churches we have much teaching on healing but very little teaching on death. Here James says that we are “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (v. 14) Job reminds us “naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21). Paul tells us, “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” (1 Timothy 6:6-7).
When one reaches the eighties, unlike those in mid-life, it is easier to realize that our earthly days may soon be over. Betty and I have bought property in Subang Jaya. When we tell our friends, they wonder how we have the money for such a purchase and they also ask us when we are moving in. We are unable to answer this question because our property is a burial plot!
Whatever our age may be, we cannot say with certainty what the future holds for us in this life. If we say with absolute confidence “I am going on a business trip to China next month”, we are in fact boasting and that is evil. We will only go to China next month if God is willing for us to do so. If in the meantime God decides that our life on earth should be over, this will be sad for our family and friends. But for us it will be “far better”. Better than any trip to China, for we will go to be with Christ!
“You are my God, my times are in your hands.” (see Psalm 31:14-15)
This meditation is extracted from “Transformation from Belief to Behaviour: 39 Lenten Meditations on the Letter of James” by Peter Young and used with permission by the author. It may be used solely for personal, noncommercial, and informational purposes. Republication or redistribution of this devotional is prohibited.
The Micah Mandate is a Christian-based public interest advocacy ministry that seeks a transformation of our nation through justice, mercy and humility.
