DEO VOLENTE (James 4:13-17)
A Time magazine a few years ago suggested that if wars are fought today over oil we will be waging war over water in the not too distant future. Scripture speaks of another precious resource which we often squander and abuse. Time. Someone once placed an advert which read as follows; “Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward offered, for they are gone forever.” In this passage James speaks about two ways of planning for the future. Two approaches to time.
- THE ATTITUDE OF THE GODLESS
James has a businessman in mind. The first century was a period of great commercial activity. But notice the arrogant speech of these businessmen. A literal translation of the Greek text would be as follows. “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, we will spend a year there, we will carry on business and we will make money.” We will, we will, we will. After exploring possible business opportunities, they had the plan, the place, the period, the programme and the purpose all worked out. The idea that their lives may be cut short before the end of the year, or that there might be an economic recession or that some other factor might upset the apple cart never entered their heads. Their attitude was one of boastful arrogance. What was their fundamental law? Did their sin lie in forward planning? No! Elsewhere in the scriptures such forethought is commended. In Proverbs 6 for instance God commends the ant, for storing its provisions in the summer that will see it through the lean winter months. Did their error lie in wanting to make a profit? No businessman in his right mind works to make a loss. In Proverbs 10:4 we are told; “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” These businessmen’s error was not that forward planning or financial gain had too big a place in their lives but that God had no place at all. One phrase could sum up their existence – life with God left out. Thomas a’ Kempis once said; “Man proposes, but God disposes.” What did he mean? Proverbs 19:21 explains; “many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” We can plan but ultimately God’s purpose prevails. Therefore, we should plan but we must plan prayerfully. The rich fool in Luke 12:13-21 made the same mistake. It is said that when Napoleon Bonaparte was considering invading Russia, a friend tried to dissuade him by quoting a’ Kempis’ words “Man proposes but God disposes.” Napoleon’s arrogant reply was, “I dispose as well as propose.” The Russian campaign marked the beginning of Napoleon’s downfall. Man proposes but God disposes. In Proverbs 27:1 this is what Solomon has to say; “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” - THE ATTITUDE OF THE GODLY
In vrs 14 James continues, why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, if it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. In these verses we can see two basic godly perspectives with respect to time and the future. Firstly, the godly person acknowledges the brevity of life. What is your life? You are like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. The scriptures make use of a number of pictures to drive home the point that life is short. A shadow (1 Chronicles 29:15), a breath (Job 7:7) and smoke (Psalm 102:3). They all testify to the shortness of life. The godly person recognizes this and is determined to invest as much as he possibly can for eternity into each day. Secondly, the godly person acknowledges the providential control of God. We have already noticed the boastful arrogance of the imaginary businessmen in vrs 13. We will do this, and we will do that. The godly person acknowledges that God is in ultimate control. If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. This is how Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:10 and he practiced what he preached in the Garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:39. My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will. The apostle Paul told the church at Ephesus in Acts 18:21 I will come back if it is God’s will. He demonstrated the same submission in his prayers (1 Corinthians 4:19, but I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing; Romans 1:10, I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you). Paul realised he had to preface his plans with DV (Deo Volente, God willing). We dare not make any plans in any other spirit.