James 4:15

"Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and also do this or that'". "Instead" -Note what James didn't say. James didn't say, "Since life is so short and unpredictable---live in fear!" Barclay notes, "But James goes on. This uncertainty of life is not. cause either for fear or for inaction because of the insecurity of the future. It is. reason for accepting and realizing our complete dependence on God…..The true Christian way is not to be terrorized into fear, and not to be paralyzed into inaction, by the uncertainty of the future, but to commit the future and all our plans into the hands of God, and always to remember that our plans may not be within the purpose of God" (p. 134)."If the Lord wills" -Which is found in other passages (Acts 18:21; 1 Corinthians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 16:7; Hebrews 6:3).

Points To Note:

1. Carefully note, that merely attaching this expression at the end of what we say, without really having faith in the statement----is useless. The statement can become. meaningless repetition if we really don't believe that God is the ruler in this universe. 2. Kent notes, "It would be wrong, however, to imagine that James was insisting upon. ritualistic formula to be attached to every statement that involved some future action. There are other instances in the New Testament where plans are stated without these words. In Ephesus, Paul stated his intention of visiting Rome after traveling to Jerusalem, Macedonia, and Achaia, he did not append this formula (Acts 19:21). He told the Romans about his plan to visit Rome on his way to Spain and likewise did not attach this proviso (Romans 15:24). What James was talking about, and what Paul demonstrated by his own practice, was the need for. proper attitude. When one's perspective is correct, it will be reflected at times in words but always shows in the way he looks at life and makes his plans" (pp. 163-164). "we shall live" -First things first, we need to remember that while we have big plans, we might not be alive to start the project, much less finish it. "Death often comes with shocking suddenness---a sudden stroke,. fatal heart attack, the rendering crash of an automobile, and it is over, in. moment, without an instant's warning" (Woods p. 247)."and also do this or that" -Note, that God doesn't ridicule the idea of planning. James doesn't go to the other extreme, where people simply say that God will do everything for them. Here, we find that human planning, human effort and the Divine will and power are to work together in harmony. We still need to plan, work and use prudence.

Points To Note:

1. God isn't against being successful or making. profit! One can be very spiritual and. very good business man at the same time. 2. "Thus the proper attitude does not exclude plans: "we will live and do this or that" assumes planning is proper….This naturally means that divine moral guidelines will be followed and divine goals sought as one plans conscious of the divine will" (Davids p. 173).