You’re Going to Do What?

James 4:13-17

It is so good to be with you again. Thank you for being there. We are glad to be here and listen to what God is teaching us through His Word. Again, today’s lesson has an evident and practical takeaway.  

Years ago, I was part of a large group that had scheduled a trip together. We all came from different areas and met in New York City for our flight. As our flight time approached, so did the predictions of a big snowstorm. The snowstorm won, and our flight was canceled. Someone in our group said, “Man plans, and God laughs.”  

We did our best to prepare and plan, but we know things like snowstorms and other circumstances may change our plans. Knowing this, we hold our plans loosely, prefacing them with the word “Lord willing.”  Christians continue committing our future to God, knowing He controls everything. This is precisely what James reminds us of in today’s lesson. You see, we tend to forget. We tend to get in the rhythm of life, making our plans and executing them month after month, year after year. This isn’t bad, but we quickly forget to acknowledge God in our plans. This lesson reminds us to consider our future and keep God in it.  

Let’s give our attention to J Mark as he teaches from James 4.       

When the luxury oceanliner Titanic was launched near the beginning of the 20th century, many people believed in new science and technology. They believed that science in the twentieth century could and would provide answers to all their problems. The loss of the Titanic was a tremendous blow to their confidence. It’s too bad we haven’t learned much from their experience. In this 21^st century, many are making the same mistake. 

In our text for today, James warns us about the danger of making plans that exclude God. Our study today is from James 4:13-17. The message’s title is “You’re Going to Do What?”  

¹³ 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”;  

¹⁴whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.  

¹⁵Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”  

¹⁶But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 

¹⁷Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. 

Our text reveals four WARNINGS related to our plans for the future.  

The First WARNING is, 

Unrealistic Expectation 

I find the beginning words of verse thirteen quite interesting: “Go to now.” The modern equivalent would be something like, “Oh, come on,” or, “Now wait a minute.” These are expressions of disbelief. What is it that calls these expressions of disbelief?  It is people who make plans without considering God.  

Don’t you find it easy to make plans without thinking about God’s plans? Too often, I find myself in this mode of thinking. Someone asks me, “Will you be at the meeting on such and such a date?” And I respond, “I sure will.” But who decides whether I’ll be there or not? God does. Some of my expectations may be unrealistic. I don’t know if I’ll be there or not. Lots can happen between now and then.  

Does that mean it’s wrong to make plans? In Proverbs chapter six, God tells us to take a lesson from the ants. They plan by gathering in the harvest in preparation for the time when gathering is impossible. In Luke fourteen, Jesus talks about the importance of planning when he illustrates the man who started to build a tower and then discovers he doesn’t have enough money to finish it. Scripture is clear; there is nothing wrong with planning ahead. 

Making plans without considering our expectations, which may be unrealistic, is wrong. The verb tense expresses repeated or continued activity. So, we could read, “You who are saying, today or tomorrow… we’ll do this or that.” This isn’t a mistake or a moment of forgetfulness. This is a deliberate mindset that excludes God from the plan.  

What are your expectations for the future?  Have you considered God’s plans? Psalm 10:4 informs us, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” This could be read, “God is not in his thoughts at all.” That’s the wicked man. But what about the righteous? How does he make his plans?  Psalm 90:12 tells us how the righteous make their plans. “So, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” 

This first warning is clear: don’t plan without considering God, or your expectations may be unrealistic! You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. 

The Second WARNING is, 

Unexpected Condensation  

There’s a bit of a play on words here. James likens our physical existence to vapor. What is vapor? It is condensation. As water is heated, the molecules’ arrangement changes and becomes vapor or steam. Water droplets become suspended in mid-air. The visible evidence of the vapor is very short-lived. That’s how James describes the length and the durability of our lives. Just like a breath of air on a cold day. It’s gone almost as soon as it is out of your mouth!  

That’s how we, as followers of Christ, are to view life. But that’s not how the unbelieving person views life. “Their inward thought is that their houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their names. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approves their sayings,” Psalm 49:11-13. They don’t see their lives from God’s perspective. 

There’s another meaning for condensation. It means to shorten or compress. I have read something called condensed books. They removed “nonessential” parts of the story to make a shortened version of those books.  

James’ reminder in verse fourteen is very pertinent to this discussion. We have no promise of tomorrow. Jesus reminded us that our lives, compared to eternity, are like the grass in the field: here today, gone tomorrow. That is why we must always consider His plans when making our plans. He knows things we have no access to.   

How quickly our lives can change! “The days of our years are seventy years; and if by reason of strength, they are eighty years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away,” Psalm 90:10. We don’t know if our “book” will be the condensed version or the unabridged. Only God knows that.   

Someone has said, “You can tie your shoes in the morning, but the undertaker may untie them tonight.” How true that is for every one of us. It is a warning not to forget the brevity of life as we make our plans.  

The Next WARNING is, 

Unqualified Approbation 

In verse fifteen, James uses this warning to explain a fundamental principle. But let me explain what I mean by unqualified approbation. The word approbation implies approval. And using the word unqualified in this context means unrestricted. In other words, we can’t do anything without God’s approval. Sometimes, that approval is explicit. We know what God wants us to do. Other times, that approval may be tacit, but God allows us to do what we want.  

In contrast to those in verse one who says, “This is what we will do,” James says we ought to say, “If God permits, we will do this or that.” As a child, I recall seeing announcements for special meetings at our church. Somewhere on that announcement were the capital letters D and V. As I got older, I learned that those letters stood for the Latin words Deo Volente, which means God Willing.  

The program planners acknowledged that they needed God’s approval for this meeting to occur. They made plans, but God decided whether or not those plans would come to reality. Proverbs 16:33 reminds us, ^“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.” 

As in all other areas of life, Jesus is our perfect example in this one, too. He lived his life so that he could say, “I do only those things which please the Father.” He moved only within the sphere of his Father’s unqualified approbation. We must be surrendered to God to say, “If the Lord wills, we will do this or accomplish that.” 

The Final WARNING is, 

Unfaithful Deviation 

Have you ever been warned not to do something but went ahead and did it anyway? Those who ignore God during their planning are doing just that. The previous verses explicitly warn us not to make the mistake of leaving God out of the picture. But in this case, God was left out, and those making the plans were boasting in their humanly devised plans. Like the sailor on the Titanic who reportedly said, “Not even God could sink this ship.” Those were foolish words. James reminds us that this kind of boasting is grievous to God.  

Where does that kind of arrogant attitude lead us? Verse seventeen says it leads to unfaithful deviation. Deviation means to turn aside from an established way, principle, or standard, in this case, God’s way and His standard. This deviation is not the result of negligence or deception. It is disobedience! It is knowing what is proper and expected, then refusing to do it. It reminds me of the unfaithful servant Jesus told us about in Luke chapter twelve.  

He knew what was right and was held to a higher standard than those who did not know better. James says that the one who knows what is right yet refuses to do it misses the mark and turns away from the path of righteousness. When a person turns away from the path of righteousness, what are their other options? There is only one: the path of wickedness, which leads to destruction.  

Unfaithful deviation leads a person away from God. And for those who don’t want God in their plans for the future, He will oblige them. When life is over, they will not be in His plans. They will have cast their lot with the enemy, Satan. They will join him in the lake of fire for eternity. 

That’s a sobering thought. I urge you to consider carefully consider these warnings in any plans. Be sure God is included in those plans. Remember that life is short. Seek not only His permission but His unqualified approval. And do not refuse His direction. If you heed these warnings, you can be assured your plans will not end tragically like the Titanic’s. 

Thanks, J Mark, for sharing. He is right. It is so good for us to remember that life is so short. To make the most of our lives, we must follow God and surrender our lives and plans to Him. Looking back on my life, I can clearly see God’s guiding hand. It is harder at times, but when I remember His faithfulness in the past, my trust in the present grows. He is faithful, and we can trust Him.     

If you have any questions about today’s teaching or want to contact us, here is how to reach us. Our email is [email protected]. You can also message us online at heraldsofhope.org. And there is always the paper option. Our address is Hope for Today, Box 3, Breezewood, PA 15533. We would love to hear from you. Please use the method that is easiest for you. 

Thanks so much for joining us for today’s teaching. Before we leave, think about what Paul told Timothy, “If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown himself.” Our God is good; let’s honor Him in all things.  

*This episode is an exposition by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.