Facing Tomorrow

James 4:13-17

Introduction

- In 1985, a movie was produced that I really liked: Back to the Future.

- In the film, teenager Marty McFly travels back to 1955 in a time machine invented by his scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown. During his time spent in the year 1955 he jeopardizes his own future existence by preventing his parents from meeting. With help of Brown's 1955 counterpart he tries to find a way to get his parents together and return to his own time.

- There were two sequels produced, both of which featured the same theme: Marty McFly arranging events so the future would turn out the way he wanted.

- Now that’s just science fiction . . . a fantasy.

- But for me it’s a kind of intriguing idea. Don’t we sometimes wish we could know what’s in the future and take control so it will turn out the way we want? . . . to know in detail events before they happen? . . .

- For example, wouldn’t it be nice to go back to April 1977 and buy a few shares in a little startup company with the unlikely name of Apple Computer? . . . or to November 1978 and invest in a new and struggling little company called Microsoft? . . . Or to September 10, 2001, and place a warning call to the FAA? . . . Or, to get more personal, wouldn’t it be nice if we could go back to any number of dates and change what turned out to be a really bad decision?

- But the reality is, none of us really knows the future in any specific detail.

1 - James deals with the topic of how we can plan for the future in 4:13-17 (read)

1. We should not plan for the future without seeking God’s will

A. That’s the point in v. 13 and the sense of the entire passage—we can be tempted to plan the future as though there will be no surprises . . . we want to plan it out for things to happen just the way we want, as though we are in complete control.

B. I think James is being a little testy here in v. 13. If he were using American English, he might say something like, “Come on now! Do you really think you are in complete control?”

1) See how the passage as a whole describes the process. There is a lot of truth behind his reasoning here that he does not explicitly state.

2) Here is how his reasoning progresses, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit:

a. It is possible to look at the future as though this life is all there is. That’s what the unsaved do. And in looking at it that way, we focus will on what this life has to offer—James’ examples are where we’ll live and how we’ll increase our wealth.

b. But we aren’t in total control and therefore we don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow.

- Perhaps Solomon said it best in Ecclesiastes 8:7: "Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?" (NIV)

c. Then James reminds us that our life here on earth is merely a fleeting time compared to our eternal existence.

2 - He uses the term “vapor”—it exists for a short time and then it’s gone. (This refers to the vapor we see on a cold day when we exhale.)

d. The point he makes in v. 16 is that we can make our plans without regard to God’s will, and then become proud and boastful about what we will accomplish, because we see ourselves, and only ourselves, in complete control.

e. The Christian alternative is presented in v. 15—we must seek God’s will and let Him guide us into the future.

- In other words, I want to think of my future plans as my plans under His guidance; or, better, discerning His will for me and making my plans and decisions accordingly.

C. His point is not that we shouldn’t plan. His point is that we shouldn’t plan without making a place for God and His will for us.

1) (My example)

2. Some “don’ts” when we plan for the future (from this and other biblical passages)

A. Don’t boast about tomorrow

1) V. 16 and Proverbs 27:1: “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

2) A lot of the boasting about tomorrow in our culture, including in Christian circles, is about wealth.

a. Ex.: TV ads for web site; the “testimonies” are fake—the small print tells us these are actors . . . boasting about how rich we can be tomorrow.

3 b. Ebay kits, foreclosed real estate . . . all directed at a here and now wealth and desire to have more stuff.

B. Don’t fear tomorrow—Matthew 6:24-34

1) Note that Jesus deals with just about all the basics of life—also note that He contrasts God’s promise to care for His people with the preoccupation of the unsaved with acquiring material wealth (mammon)

2) Whenever I read this passage from Matthew 6, I am reminded of the choice Joshua announced to the people of Israel in Joshua 24:15: “. . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve . . .”

3) Regardless of the insecurities we may feel when we think about all the bad things that might happen to us in the future . . . the choice for the Christian is to serve God, and not the world, as our highest calling . . . because we can know for sure the promises of God to meet every need.

3. Some “do’s” when we plan for the future

A. Remember the past is past and step forward

1) I tend to spend a lot of time in Joshua and in preparing this message was struck by the first few verses of the book of Joshua.

a. Joshua 1:2: “Moses My servant is dead. No therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving them, the children of Israel.”

b. In other words, step forward. It’s the start of a new chapter. What’s past is in the past, and the eternal promise is still ahead of you.

B. Make righteous decisions (v. 17)

4 1) V. 17 presents the simple concept: do what is right decision by decision, step by step in life.

2) Sometimes, we can be in the middle of a crisis or confused about what path to take. Or sometimes we are faced with alternatives that all qualify as good and righteous.

a. In every case, v. 17 can be our guide (read)

b. James isn’t saying here to do “good” as in “good deed.” The term means suitable, useful, excellent, morally good and approved of God, or even commendable.

c. In other words, James is telling his readers . . . “do the right thing” or “make the righteous choice.”

3) We sometimes may feel out of control about the future, but we are in control of our own responses and decision- making. If James were here today, he would tell us to make those decisions and responses righteous, useful, morally good and approved of God.

C. Depend on God to direct you

1) Proverbs 16:9—“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

2) Sometimes we seem to experience the Holy Spirit in us pointing to the next step to take. Other times all we seem to know is which step is righteous or unrighteous. In either case, the Lord is directing our steps.

3) This verse from Proverbs also tells me something else . . . the plans I make may not be permanent . . . I need to be ready to adjust, based on how the Lord is directing me.

D. Stay in the Word

1) This is kind of an afterthought.

5 2) Again I turn to Joshua. Joshua 1:8: “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but yo shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

3) To our western minds, the translation of that last line may be misinterpreted. So here is the literal translation that preserves the thought: “For then you will make progress and have good insight.” The sense is to “have the insight to be successful.”

Conclusion

Two reminders from this passage in James:

1. Always keep in mind that life is too brief not to have God at the center of our plans.

2. In light of that, always be committed to doing God’s will.

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