Thriving and Suriving....

Introduction

We are a place in the year in which people make resolutions. We reflect on the previous year and plan to make changes according to what we believe we need or want to accomplish. Some resolutions involve saving more money, traveling, reading more, working out more or even showcasing more discipline in areas of opportunity in life. One thing we must take into consideration is the will of God. I remember when my mother was stationed in Honduras in 2019, I made plans to visit her in April of the following year. In 2020 around March plans changed for the entire world. Vacations were cancelled, people shifted when it came to their careers. Some of us worked from home for the first time. One thing that stayed consistent was the will of God. It’s quite powerful to thing that purpose and will does not change no matter the circumstance of the world. In life we make plans on a daily basis. We go to target and buy planners, we read self-help books, we make check list and vision boards and some of those things come to fruition and some of them do not. One thing we must accept and understand is no matter the outcome it all depends on the will of God. His ability to let things happen, His ability to allow things to happen solely depends on his power. In the fourth chapter of James, he’s not talking to people who are desolate and struggling, he is talking to people with a little bit of money in their pockets. People with careers who make plans and attend strategic planning meetings should understand this text. James is not talking to people in survival mode, he’s talking to people are in a position to thrive. In survival mode you are just taking one task as they come in hopes that things turn out well. Being able to plan comes from a place of thriving.

James is writing in effort to get the attention of people who think that they can determine their future by planning. We live in a society that buys in to this concept. We hear people expressing this idea of manifestation that somehow I have the ability to speak things into existence. I’m not saying words do not have power but what I am saying is that when things happen, God is allowing them to happen.

The Sphere of Influence and Control

Where we have challenges is when we make plans as if we control every outcome of our life. In life there are three phases.

There are things that we control, you made a decision to be here today, you looked in your closet and decided what you were going to where. You made a choice about what you wanted to listen to on the way to church. God has given us the power to make choices, to make decisions. Then there are things in which we influence. Our actions, our words, our ability to be an example to those around us are all portions of life that we influence. Then there are things out of our control. We didn’t control the weather today, there are some illnesses that are beyond our control, we can’t control how other people treat us and most importantly we do not control what tomorrow brings. It’s not that tomorrow has no value it’s the fact that our ability to depend on God today should take precedent.

Background

James 4:13 “Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”;”

James 5:1 “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!”

The consistency in this pericope showcases the fact that James is trying to get someone’s attention.

The idea of “do not worry” may seem redundant and miniscule but worrying can literally take over your life and put you in a position of fear and paralysis. The goal is to strengthen Christians preemptively who will go through trials. Granted we are wowed by the idea of deep theological thought but sometimes we need some practical real talk to just help us understand the true meaning of life. Verses 13-17 is a model for integrity.

God gives to those who allow their life to be led from a place of unity, harmony, and integrity.

God is also gracious to the humble.

Also understand the fact that life is fragile, and as cliche as it sounds life is short!

Even when we think about the world in which we live in today. So many things are based on commercialism, capitalism and competition and we have to be careful that the things of the world do not distract us of the purpose that God has in our life.

Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.”

From a world perspective, what is the essence of conflict?

James set the stage at the beginning of the text:

“Where do wars and fights come from among you?

They come from desires for pleasure

Lust and the fear of missing out, we murder, covet and can’t obtain.

The climax of this thought is the fact that we don’t have because we do not ask. Or our pride puts us in a position of being resisted by God, grace is only give to the humble! To understand the will of God begins with our ability to submit to the will and way of God. Understand that humility and exaltation go hadn in hand, “humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up”.

Faith in the Future of God’s Will

The danger of future plans and even procrastination is tomorrow is unknown. Ask yourself the question, what is God’s will for my life? No matter how successful, it’s all God. God puts us in position, God gives us the resources and the opportunity. My plan for life should be based on the goals and plans based on God’s will for my life. I have no idea what tomorrow holds but if I make it, I’m depending on God. We make plans, we set goals but God controls the time.

This text commissions us to trust in the right source. When I understand the nature of who God is and the fact that in the grand scheme of life and eternity that this is a small fraction of what my relationship with God is, I then understand that God controls all of these things.

God is greater than survival mode. It’s the beauty of trusting in God. I can be in the middle of a trial and still be at peace. I can be working harder than I ever worked and still be at peace because I know who controls the outcome. James identifies the word of God as a powerful tool that can sustain and save souls. Understand the trust has work attached to it, living as a Christian is action-based.

Conclusion

What is God’s will? Thy kingdom come, thy will be done! Understand we have a responsibility to trust Him and if we know what to do and do not do it, that’s a sin and outside of the will of God. Anytime we operate outside of a faith construct we need to correct our steps. To know right is not enough, hearing is not enough, confessing is not enough, our words need to match our actions. We can’t say we love Christ and not stand in the gap for the marginalized or walk by faith even when it gets tough!