Today is that one day a year that I feel like everything about my life and future is out of my control and in the hands of a Sovereign God. My husband is helping his friend paint the logo on a water tower. He does this once a year and loves it–the painting and bonding–but I spend all day waiting for the call that says his feet are firmly on the ground at the end of the day. I feel utterly helpless until he is home and hugging me tightly!
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”–yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.
When we try to control our own location, duration, vocation and aspirations we are setting ourselves up as god. By excluding God from our choices and refusing to consider His will and plan; we live as though He does not exist, and He is not in control.
We cannot even guarantee that we will live to see tomorrow. Proverbs 27:1 says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Jesus keeps us breathing and our hearts beating through the night.
This past week I had some serious head congestion, and as crazy as it sounds, it gave me panic attacks all night. I was sure that I was going to die in my sleep because I couldn’t breathe through my nose. I remember being awakened with the fear that I wasn’t breathing last Monday, and I said to the Lord, “If you want to keep me alive, keep me breathing while I sleep.” I knew my life was in His hands–but it is every single moment of every single day–not just when my husband is up on a water tower or when I can’t breathe through my nose at night.
What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
In light of all the ages and eras of mankind, our life is only a vapor. Our names, reputations and deeds may outlive us by 50 years if we’re fortunate. We think too much of ourselves! If we spend our lives living only for ourselves and fulfilling our own purposes, in the end we are left with nothing of value or truly lasting. May my prayer be like David’s, “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadth, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!” (Psalm 39:4-6)
Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
Ever since studying the book of James inductively two years ago, I have tried to apply this verse to my life and actions. It is difficult to say–it almost sounds morbid! “I’ll see you Thursday, if the Lord wills.” “I’ll pick you up from school, if the Lord wills.” “Lord willing, we will be at your party.” My mind automatically thinks, “If I’m dead I won’t be!” But it is not a morbid addition to our plans if we have come to grips with the sovereignty and goodness of God. If I’m not at the party, or seeing my friend on Thursday, or picking up my son from school it is because what God has planned supersedes my own agenda and what He has planned is good for me and for His glory. “I will see my husband tonight, Lord willing.”
As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
Boasting means taking pride and self-satisfaction in our own achievements, possessions and abilities. God calls it arrogant and evil. Ouch! If God is in control of all things, and He is fulfilling His plans throughout all time in His people, then who are we to boast in our own vaporous achievements and accumulations! There are numerous verses in the Bible about boasting–its ill effects on mankind and also the blessings of boasting in the Lord. Jeremiah 9:23-24 says, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight,’ declares the Lord.”
This past week, my youngest son and I started memorizing Psalm 34, and when we got to verse two (“I will boast only in the Lord, let all those who are helpless take heart.”) I pridefully thought, that’s a good verse, when I know someone who feels helpless I can share it with them. I’m not helpless! But the truth is, I am helpless! I will always be dependent on God for my life and breath and being! He calls all the shots! He had every day of my life written in a book before one of them came to be. He knows my entrance date into and exit date out of this world! I don’t mind being helpless and boasting in my weakness, when it means I can boast in my Lord and His strength!