12th November 2024

12th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 4v13-16)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


I write this devotion as a 45 year old man who lives under many assumptions. To assume is to believe that something will happen even if no evidence exists to support the assumption. For example, I assume that I will reach retirement age and enjoy many happy years walking my dogs on the beach, I assume that my current good health will last indefinitely and I assume that in 43 days time I’ll be enjoying my mother-in-law’s stuffing on yet another Christmas Day.


But it doesn’t take a genius to understand that assumptions are not built on anything concrete. Our assuming hearts like to say “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” (v13), only to hear James’ reply “you do not know what tomorrow will bring.” (v14a). Isn’t that a sobering statement? Not one of us can accurately predict tomorrow.


If that wasn’t enough, James reminds us of human frailty. We are like a mist which appears for a while and then vanishes (v14b). Although we act like we’ll be here forever the truth is quite the opposite. Scripture says that our lifespan is 70 or perhaps by reason of strength 80 (Psalm 90v10). There are those who see 90 and even 100 but most of us will not dance for joy on our 100th birthday. Indeed, the average lifespan for men in the UK is 79 with ladies enjoying an extra few years.


James has already shared with us how the Gospel produces Christian humility and it is the humble heart which understands every breath we enjoy is by the grace of God. Therefore as we make our plans it is good to acknowledge that everything depends upon the will of God (v15). If He wills us to reach 100 then it will be so. No wonder many Christians have made a habit of saying “DV” at the end of bold declarations. What does DV mean? Deo volente or God willing. This phrase isn’t magic and it certainly doesn’t make our plans come true. Instead it is a useful reminder that we aren’t the author of the story.


To live and act and plan ignoring our frailty is sheer arrogance and to boast of the things we’ll certainly do is to deny that we lack knowledge of the whole picture. We are therefore boasting in arrogance and such boating is evil (v16).


Is it always sinful to plan for tomorrow? By no means. James speak against the individual who gives no thought to God and sinfully presumes he/she is the master of their own destiny. It is not sinful to carefully plan for the future whilst acknowledging the sovereignty of God. The lazy fool is told to consider the hard working ant in Proverbs 6v6-8. The ant is active in the summer so that she can reap a harvest later in the year. Your pension plan is not sinful and your spreadsheet which tracks your plans for your dream holiday in 2030 is not wicked as long as we plan and dream in humility and thankful acknowledgment of Almighty God.


Brothers and sisters, may the Lord remind us daily of the Gospel producing in us a Spirit worked humility. Tomorrow doesn’t belong to us but we follow the God who has written all of our days in His book. Trust Him.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q33 What is justification? Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
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