James 4:15. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
‘Hot town, summer in the city. Back of my neck, getting dirty and gritty.’ Yes Friends, that’s how it was yesterday afternoon in my area. The sun was shining brightly, and actually giving off heat. When I first came out side and felt the heat of the sun on my face, I felt like I’d died and gone to heaven. Mama Mia! It felt so good! And I ended up outside most of the afternoon, doing some physical chores, then lounging on my back porch for the first time this year, suitably attired in my shorts and t-shirt. Wow! What a change! The day before I was showering in hot water to try and ease the aches and pains in the old bones, but yesterday it was cold water all the way to wash away the sweat and cool down the body. Like we’re finally getting some good weather, as it’s supposed to be sunny and warm, in the high teens for the rest of the week. And all God’s people in the north country declared a solemn, but happy: ‘Praise the Lord! It’s about time!’ (smile) Yes Friends, it’s surely time that the Lord granted us some decent warm weather up here in the north, but it’s also time that we begin cleaning up our Christian conduct, this in reference to our increasing dependence on ourselves, our own strength, where James appropriately scolds us. ‘Go to (come) now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain (make a profit). 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.’ (James 4:13-14) Ah mih people, what fools we make of ourselves, when we believe we have the wherewithal to control our destiny. That’s the wisdom of a fool. For as our Bit wisely informs us: ‘For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.’ And isn’t that the veritable truth! Hear the scholars. ‘This, or that: This verse teaches that God does have something for Christians to do and that they should plan accordingly. James condemns only elaborate planning that omits God. (cf. Prov.16:9)’ And that’s exactly where we fall down my brethren; omitting our great and wonderful God from all our big and bright plans! For when we turn to Proverbs 16:9, as the scholars point out, what we read is: ‘A man’s heart deviseth (plans) his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.’ Similarly in Proverbs 19:21, Cousin Sol informs us: ‘There are many devices (plans) in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.’ Yes my fellow believers, we can scheme and plan as much as we want, but Almighty God is sovereign over every move we make. Please, let’s remember that, and always include God in our plans, from the very start too, if we don’t want to face too much heartache and disappointment. As you’ll notice, whenever I say we’ll continue stuff the following day, I always include, either ‘God willing,’ or ‘God in favour.’ That’s because I’m not sure if it will be God’s will for me to be around the next day, or even if He will want us to continue with the same stuff from the day before. So it’s always wise to add the proviso, be it God’s will. Now let’s look at some scriptures that create the appropriate mindset, that of including God in ALL of our plans. And we’ll begin in Acts 18, when Bruh Paul passes through Ephesus. The Good Book declares: ‘When they desired (asked) him to tarry (stay a) longer time with them, he consented not; But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep the feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus.’ (Acts 18:20-21) Please notice the three most important words in that scripture my brethren, ‘if God will.’ For without God we can do nothing of much worth, and the best laid plans of mice and men usually go astray when we leave God out of the planning. Now listen to Bruh Paul again, this time in his first missive to the Corinthians. ‘But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.’ (1 Cor.4:19) Again, the important words in that passage are, ‘if the Lord will.’ Oh my people, it’s always about the will of the Lord for dedicated Christians, since we surrendered our will to Him when we accepted His Son, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. And we’ll finish with some appropriate words form Hebrews, where the author desires to talk about the fundamental doctrines of Christianity. He then declares: ‘And this will we do, if God permit.’ (Heb.6:3) Yes Friends, we shall all do what we shall – if God permits it. Let us not forget that, and therefore take God into our inner circle and lay our plans before Him, for His approval. Or better yet, ask Him to show us His plan for our day and our lives, so that we won’t be too disappointed or ashamed by trying to live on the strength of our mortal inadequacy. That again, is wisdom at its highest level. Much LOVE!…man plans…but God overrides…
SCRIP-BITS 