Seeking God's Will

One question believers often ask is, "How can I know God's will?" As teens you might struggle with this question because of the important decisions you must make in the coming years. When we face difficult decisions, God doesn't usually give us an answer in writing or in an audible voice, although we might wish He would. You should understand that sometimes there are no easy answers but that God does promise to guide us as we make decisions and plans.

James 4:13–17 KJV 1900

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: 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. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

In last week's passage, James talked about submission to God. Today's passage continues that line of thought, focusing on submission to His will, especially as we make plans for the future. Some of our plans aren't as important as others—planning your wardrobe versus making plans to move your family across the country, for example. But the point is to live all of life aware of God's ultimate control and with a desire to please Him in all that we do. Life is short, so we must strive each day to live for Him.

Teens tend to assume they will live a long life on this earth. Some feel as though they are indestructible. Today's passage can remind us not only of life's uncertainty but also of the eternal hope we have in Christ. I encourage you to trust your future to God and to seek His will daily as you begin to make plans for their lives.

This lesson addresses the belief that a career and wealth guarantee happiness. Believers know that true happiness comes through following God. But when it comes to career and material possessions, sometimes it's easy to forget to seek God's direction. We might assume the most lucrative job is the best choice and the one that will bring us most satisfaction. But only in God's will can we find the most satisfaction. He knows what's best for us. In this lesson, students wilt learn the importance of including God in their plans for the future.

Option I—Whose Plan?

• Resource 41-RI 7 ' Small box or bag

1 . Give each student a copy of resource 41-RI 7. Students will consider their personal plans for the future by answering the questions on the resource. Remind students to write their names at the bottom of their papers and to keep their answers hidden while they fill out the sheet.

2. Students fold their papers in half and place them in the box or bag, Pull out papers one at a time. Without identifying the student, read the questions and answers. The group tries to identify the student according to his or her predictions. Allow two guesses. If the student is not correctly identified, place it aside and reveal that student's identity at the end.

3. Transition to the Bible lesson.

It's interesting to think about the future—your own as well as your friends' futures. The Bible teaches that it's wise to make good plans for the future. Some of James's readers had been making plans but with the wrong attitude. They had failed to include God In this lesson, you'll consider the importance of seeking God's will when you make plans for daily life and for the future.

Option 2—Best Laid Plans

1 . Prepare to tell a personal story about a time when something unexpected happened to change your plans. Share your experience with the students, including your attitudes and emotions during and after the event.

2. Allow volunteers to share similar experiences. Use the questions below for discussion.

ASK: Can you think of a time when your plans were changed unexpectedly? What was the plan? What happened to change those plans?

ASK: What was your attitude during the experience?

ASK: How much control do we have over the events in our lives?

3. Transition to the Bible lesson.

Even when we are trying to follow God's plan in our lives, we can't predict when something might happen to change the specific plans we've made. No one knows the future but God. Only He is in control. James's readers forgot that. They made the mistake of boasting about their plans while excluding God. In this session, you'll consider the importance of seeking God's will when you make plans for daily life and for the future.

I. Making Selfish Plans

Some people cite James 4 as evidence that planning displeases the Lord. Although James's warning was stern and forthright, he did not caution believers against all planning but against making plans without consulting God. The planners believed they controlled the outcome of their plans. They assumed that since they were believers, they could pursue their personal goals and expect God to go along with their plans.

ASK: What plans might teens make without consulting God? Their career choice; where to go to college; how to spend their money; who to date; how to use their time.

James 4:13 KJV 1900

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:

The very point James is making in this verse is that we should not just go and make plans for the future without including God. Just because you are a Christian does not mean that you have God’s approval to just do what you set your mind to.

II. Seeking God's Will

James didn't suggest that planning is not spiritual. Instead, he challenged his readers to revise their plans in light of God's will, for they could neither know nor control their future circumstances.

So, we know that we need to include God in our plans but how do we seek His will for our lives? Here are a few steps in doing that.

A. Make prayer a priority

James 4:14–15 KJV 1900

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. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

The word "prayer" doesn't occur in this specific context. But from other passages, we know prayer is essential to pursuing God's will Jesus taught His disciples that prayer should include submission to God, expressing a desire that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matt. 6; Luke 1 1). James was not chiding his readers for planning. Rather, he cautioned them against planning without praying.

Philippians 4:6–7 KJV 1900

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

ASK: How are we blessed when we include God in our planning? We can come to God in confidence and be freed from anxiety He will fill us with His peace.

ASK: What are some dangers of making plans without consulting God? We could miss God's blessing. We might open ourselves up to God's discipline.

B. Acknowledge God's Sovereignty

As the phrase "today or tomorrow" indicates (James 4: 13), the tradesmen had set a date for their move, apparently without asking God. So James confronted the tradesmen with their inability to be certain of the future. No one can be sure of waking up the next day to carry out plans. "Know" means "understanding" (4:14). The tradesmen had acted as if they understood all their tomorrows would bring. They didn't consider, however, their own mortality.

The planners had not acknowledged God's role in the future. God is sovereign and has planned their days, even the day of their death. If God were willing to give them another day, then perhaps they could carry out their plans. But they just assumed their tomorrow was already theirs.

Christians can fall into similar traps. Instead of buying up present opportunities to live for God, we dream of one day making a big splash" or a lot of money to make us happy all our days. We tend to focus on the temporary opportunities rather than the eternal ones. In this life, nothing is guaranteed. Even if we live a long life, compared to eternity it is like a vapor or mist that quickly disappears (James 4: 14).

(Story of me working for Willard but wishing I could serve God.)

C. Make attitude adjustments

The sin of James's audience lay not in working and conducting business but in their attitudes. Remember that James had already instructed his readers to enjoy the good and perfect gifts from God and not to covet worldly goods (James 1 : 1 7; 4:1—4). With that context in mind, it seems covetousness was the underlying motive in the tradesmen's plans to move their trade to a new city. Finding God's will, rather than covetousness, should be one's primary goal in knowing what to do.

The apostle Paul provides a good example of one who made plans while being consistently sensitive to God's will.

Acts 16:7–10 KJV 1900

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Romans 1:13 KJV 1900

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

D. Wise or Godly Counsel

f you travel to Greensburg, Kansas, you can pay a visit to what is billed as the “World’s Largest Hand-Dug Well.” Construction on the well began in the 1880’s. As the railroads made their way across Kansas, a reliable source of water for the steam engines was essential. The work was done by teams of men using hand tools—shovels, picks, half barrels, pulleys, and rope. As they made their way downward, they lined the well shaft with limestone rock. The finished well is more than one hundred feet deep and more than thirty feet in diameter. It took enormous effort to reach the water, but it produced lasting results.

The Bible likens wise counsel to water in a deep well. Good advice is not just lying around on the surface—it takes work to find. There are plenty of people who have no idea what they are talking about but will be more than happy to give you a “piece of their mind.” And sadly there will be plenty of people to give you advice that goes directly against the authority and commandments of Scripture. Anyone who wishes to be truly wise and reap the benefits of godly counsel is going to have to reject the simple approach and put forth effort—but the effort is worth it.

Proverbs 20:5 KJV 1900

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.

E. Accept God's will

James challenged the readers to first consider whether it was God's will for them to "live" to pursue their plans (4:1 5). Because God is Creator and Sustainer, He has control, and all decisions should be made in submission to His will. Secondly, they were to consider whether it was God's will for them to do "this or that. " James spoke not only of the goal but also of the time and place his readers were planning to work. He implied it might have been God's will for them to stay put. Or, as in Paul's case, God might have wanted them to go somewhere else. Whatever His will, they needed to accept it, realizing that God knows both the future and what is best.

When we realize that God controls the future and that He knows what is best for us, we can more easily submit to His will as we make our plans.

But may we never be like Jonah and decide that God’s plan is not of you. I have been reading through Jonah and he was a miserable man. He obeyed God eventually but he never excepted it fully and the book ends with Jonah pouting over God’s forgiveness.

When I knew God was calling me to serve Him my first thought was you have the wrong guy God. Then I wanted to be an architect or builder. So I told God I would go be a BBFI builder after I have made a career for myself. I even went as far as taking drafting classes. I found out really fast that I hated architectural drafting.

Conclusion

As believers, we should take seriously James's warning not to ignore God in considering the future. We must determine to make our plans according to His will. The key is to anticipate the future and make plans, accepting change as God reveals His will for our lives. And when God makes His will clear, we need to obey it with joy.

Remember that much of God's will is readily available in His Word. We simply need to read it with discernment and understanding. When we do God's revealed will, our hearts will be ready to obey His directive will for our personal lives.