What Is Your Life?

Today’s Passages – James 2 – 5; Proverbs 22

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 106 – 110; Memorize – Luke 2:11)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Ephesians 4:32

Read last year’s post from this passage – “Don’t Budge”

“Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” – (James 4:13-15)

I have oftened used the above  verses at funeral services while trying to get the people to consider their eternal destiny, but this morning I want to direct these verses toward the Christian. As you approach the new year, I want to encourage you to carefully consider what your plans are. I find that a lot of people have their lives all planned out, and I must confess that I have an idea in my head as to how I would like the rest of my life to play out. However, life rarely works out according to our plans; and when our plans don’t work out the way we envisioned them, it leaves us with feelings of discontentment and regret. We really do not know for sure if we have any tomorrows at all.

Consider the little phrase, “if the Lord will” from verse 15. I use that phrase all of the time. I might say something like this: “I’ll see you tomorrow, the Lord willing.” Sometimes I say, “the good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” When we say those things we are acknowledging that our plans may not be in the will of God, and that He has the power to change the plans. But even while we acknowledge God’s sovereignty over our plans and desires, they are still ours. My challenge to you (and me) this new year is for you to seek the Lord’s will prior to making your plans. What does God want you to do this year? God may have a will for your life that is totally different from your ideas, dreams, and desires. Why not invite God to have His will and His way in your life, this year. Let Him direct your future. He knows what’s best for you anyway. Let Him call the shots. I think that you will find that once your “life” is surrendered to His will there will be a peace and contentment about whatever He allows to happen. You will begin to recognize that He does a much better job than you do at “direct[ing] your path”.