Boasting about tomorrow??

Christ4Life

In James 13-14 it says: 13 Now listen you who ought to say "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that ciry , aspend a year there, carry on business and make money" 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while than vanishes."

So does that mean when we make plans ahead of time we are commiting a sin?? Please reply.

joyisgod

Christ4life,

You bring up a valid question and its easier to understand if we break up the verses and explain each line.

Go to now, ye that say…

The apostle passes from exposing the sin of detraction, and rash judgment, to inveigh against those of presumption and self-confidence; and the phrase, "go to now", is a note of transition, as well as of attention, and contains the form of a solemn and grave address to persons, who either think within themselves, or vocally express, the following words, or the like unto them:

today, or tomorrow, we will go into such a city;

in such a country, a place of great trade and merchandise; as Tyre then was in Phoenicia, Thessalonica in Macedonia, Ephesus in Asia, and others: some render this as an imperative, or as an exhortation, "let us go", which does not alter the sense.

And continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain;

as is customary for merchants to do; nor does the apostle design by this to condemn merchandise, and the lawful practice of buying and selling, and getting gain; but that men should not resolve upon those things without consulting God, and attending to his will, and subjecting themselves to it; and without considering the uncertainty and frailty of human life; as well as should not promise and assure themselves of success, of getting gain and riches, as if those things were in their own power, and had no dependence upon the providence and blessing of God. The other fault is this: That men do so confidently determine on these and those matters and businesses, as though every moment of their life did not depend on God, as peremptorily as if your life were in your own hands.

James 4:14

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow…

Whether there would be a morrow for them or not, whether they should live till tomorrow; and if they should, they knew not what a morrow would bring forth, or what things would happen, which might prevent their intended journey and success: no man can secure a day, an hour, a moment, and much less a year of continuance in this life; nor can he foresee what will befall him today or tomorrow; therefore it is great stupidity to determine on this, and the other, without the leave of God, in whom he lives, moves, and has his being; and by whose providence all events are governed and directed; see (Proverbs 27:1)

for what is your life?

of what kind and nature is it? what assurance can be had of the continuance of it? by what may it be expressed? or to what may it be compared?

it is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time, and then
vanisheth away;

which rises out of the earth, or water, and expires almost as soon as it exists; at least, continues but a very short time, and is very weak and fleeting, and carried about here and there, and soon returns from whence it came: the allusion is to the breath of man, which is in his nostrils, and who is not to be accounted of, or depended on.


In my opinion according to those previous verses its not a sin per se too make plans for the future as long as you are well aware that your life is not in your own hands. You must have full faith in the will of God, and depend on Him. God gave us free will, and free choice to do what we see is best, but we must always know and believe that our plans may not be what God has in mind for us, so we must always have faith that His will is stronger then ours.

I hope that cleared up your confusion

In His Name

mazza

that was incredible joyisgod
god bless ya ;)