James beckons this early Christian audience to hear out his scenario. He tells of Christian merchants who plan where they're going, when they're going, how long they will be there, and what they expect the result of this venture to be. They disregard some fundamental aspects to planning for the future as a believer: that is God's will and sovereignty. We can plan all we want but life can change in an instant.
Whether it be sickness, accident, murder, you name it; life is a passing shadow, a quickly risen vapor soon to dissipate. All things are passing away but Christians have a hope that goes beyond the grave. We mustn't be so presumptuous that we forget there is the one-true God and Lord who has decreed all things that come to pass, who carries out His own will and fails not to bring about His plans regardless of what our plans are. The good news is for the believer, His plan and will are the very best thing for us. We ought not to fret when wrenches are thrown in the gears, whether big or small, because our Lord is actually building something better.
So our attitude should be whatever the Lord wills, we will do and live in that reality. To do otherwise is a boasting in some fake self-confidence or faux independence. We should boast in the Lord. James caps his admonishment by saying we know the right thing to do in our planning, go before the Lord and desire His will above ours; but if we fail to do that it is sin by omission. |
