While still at the beginning of this new year, how are you feeling about the future? Do you look forward with dread or hope? Much of our anxiety comes from future-oriented concerns about the unknown. Two things are certain about the future–nobody knows what’s going to happen, & ultimately we’re not in control of it!
So-called experts make all kinds of predictions about the future–what’s going to happen with the economy or environment. But they’re not prophets, & their track records are pretty dismal. I’ve lived long enough to see nearly all such predictions fail to materialize, so I find their fearmongering & computer modeling hard to swallow.
Alarmists look to the future with dread, fear & anxiety–everything’s a “crisis.” Why do many commit suicide, or at least live in a black-pilled despair? They can’t look beyond the present “hopeless” situation to see a better future. Others imagine a future that’s a golden utopian age of tranquility, where science & education solve all our problems. They think everything will be OK if we can just elect the right politicians or enact the right laws. But there’s no evidence in human nature to make us believe that either.
The Bible remarked centuries ago: “Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?” (Ecc. 8:7). No one knows the future, except God. James confronts those who take the future for granted, as if they’re in complete control, by setting up a typical conversation between a couple of businessmen discussing their plans. “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’” Sounds like a good business plan. Is there anything wrong with that? Well, yes. There’s not a single mention of God. “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” Because life is short & fragile, “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:13-15).
The Bible does talk about the importance of good planning. Proverbs says it’s wise to plan, & that if I don’t, I’m a fool. The starting point in facing the future is to pray, “God, what do you want me to do or not to do?” And then we consult His Word, & perhaps other mature Christians so that we can better know His will (Prov. 16:1, 9, 15:22, 21:5, 22:3, 15).
There’s nothing wrong with a healthy concern for the future that moves you to make wise plans. James isn’t denouncing the value of good planning; he’s talking about a person planning without taking advantage of the guidance, wisdom, & will of God. It’s great to have dreams & goals, but he forgot to ask God’s direction, & so he’s facing his future with a roll of the dice. And we do it too. We make plans about our future & if we have a question or if we’re nervous about something, only then we’ll ask for God’s help. But if it looks like we can chart the course without His help, then we choose to face our future without God.
People can love Jesus deeply, but when it comes to planning their business or families or retirement, or any next move, they’re practical atheists. They just go off on their own as if all depends on them. It’s that kind of godless planning that James is warning against.
Did you know that for hundreds of years, Christians used to sign their letters with “D.V.” at the end? It stood for the Latin phrase “Deo Valente” – “Lord willing”. Growing up as a Hoosier, our tradition was a little more homey as folks would paraphrase James 4:15 as, “Lord willing & if the crick don’t rise.” Folks often made sure to include that “if” in there because life is pretty iffy. It’s unpredictable. Planning without God is presumptuous.
As James says, “Your life is but a mist.” Let’s not presume we’re guaranteed another day, let alone another year. The older I get, the more real that becomes. But that shouldn’t cause believers worry because we can trust the Lord for all our needs (Matt. 6:31-34). He’s in control, loves you, & knows what’s best for you. We can be rightfully concerned about the future, but not get tied up in knots, constantly worrying about what might happen. We can take those concerns to God in prayer (Phil. 4:6-7).
We don’t know what the future holds, but we do know the one who holds the future. He’s already there. Trust God for your future. Regardless of what you’ve done in the past & what feels out of control in the present, you can have a promising future. Whatever changes, challenges, or curveballs may be thrown, we have this comforting assurance: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).
That comforting assurance covers what happens if we don’t live to see another day or year. If your hope is in Him, you know where you’ll be. If you’re unsure of your forever future, then don’t wait another moment. “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation“ (2 Cor. 6:2). The wisest way to prepare for tomorrow is to be sure you’re in a right relationship with God today.