UNCONTROLLABLE UNEXPECTED

UNCONTROLLABLE UNEXPECTED

READ:
James 4:13-17

Instead you ought to say,
"If the Lord wills, we shall
live and do this or that."
-James 4:15

Life is full of surprises-some of which take life in unwelcome directions.  I still remember the shockwave that hit our family several decades ago when my father lost his job through no fault of his own.  With a house full of kids to feed, it was a jarring blow.  But as certainly as Dad's job loss was beyond his control and unexpected, he still knew he could trust God for his future.

As Jesus' followers, we must recognize that there are things in life that are the "uncontrollable unexpected," as I call them.  To help us in those moments, James 4:13-15 offers this wisdom:  "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'' whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow....Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.'"  The people to whom James was writing were making plans while excluding God's prerogative to direct their lives.

Is it wrong to plan for the future?  Of course not.  It is unwise, however, to forget that God may allow some "uncontrollable unexpected" events as He sees fit.  Ultimately, all that happens is for the best-even when it's hard to see.  We must trust Him and His plans for our future.  -Bill Crowder

I know who holds the future,
And I know who holds my hand;
With God things don't just happen-
Everything by Him is planned. -A. Smith
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We may not know what the future holds,
but we can trust the One who holds the future.

INSIGHT
James ends this section in a curious manner.  "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (v.17).  "Therefore" connects this verse to the previous verses.  One understanding of this connection is specific:  It it good to make God part of your plans and a sin to neglect Him in your planning.  However, James is likely speaking of more than an ignoring of God in our plans, which is a sin of omission-something unknown that was left undone.  He is also speaking of a willful neglect of things we know ought to be done.  To ingnore our responsibility to do what is good and right is sin (Luke 12:47).

Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace