In the practical epistle that is the book of James, James teaches us some important lessons about the future, the brevity of life, and the sovereignty of God.

James 4:13–15 (ESV)
¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—¹⁴ yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  ¹⁵ Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

The problem with James’ readers began with their arrogance.  They did not say, we might do this or that, but we “will.”  Their plans were already made and their conclusion was that they would be successful, and they would do it all apart from God’s intervention.  Their thinking was self-sufficient, and their language demonstrated a belief that they were in control.  James was likely addressing those who were at least relatively wealthy.  He had a lot to say to the rich in this letter (1:10-11; 2:6-7; 5:1-6).  The truth is, however, whether one is rich, poor, or somewhere in the middle, much about man’s future is out of his control.

James responded to them with a statement of reality.  “…you do not know what tomorrow will bring,” he told them.  It is one thing to plan for the future, but it is something else to arrogantly believe that we are in control of it.  James’ readers thought they could control the smallest details of their plans.  In their minds, they knew exactly where they were going, how long they would be there, and what the result of their efforts would be.  The reality was they did not know if they would make it to their destination, if they could find a suitable dwelling place to live for an entire year, or if they would be able to make a profit.  They could not even be sure that they would be around to see the next day, let alone the next 365 days, for they did not know what tomorrow would bring.

Life itself is uncertain.  As James said, we are here only for a little while before we vanish.  He was not the only inspired writer to remind us of this truth.

1 Peter 1:24–25 (ESV)
²⁴ For “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, ²⁵ but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Knowing that life is so brief and always uncertain, what should we do about the future?  There is nothing wrong with planning for it.  It is unwise not to do so.  However, those who are humble realize that they are not in control of what happens tomorrow and turn to the one who is.  They make plans knowing that they will only come to fruition if the permissive will of God allows them to do so.  Acknowledging this, not only with our words, but also in our hearts, is the wise and humble thing to do.

Do you acknowledge God in your planning?  It is the right thing to do, and James closes this section by reminding us that to know what is right and fail to do it is a sin (ver. 17).  Let’s avoid this transgression by acknowledging the will of God in all our planning.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.