Arrogance

I had my post high school years sorted, summer in the sounds then camp USA, BSA camp super cheap all set. Then disclocated shoulder with a pillow,

Into working for the man at spark, volunteering at YG, kiwi Ranch, Living Springs, then into work at other camps and finally here at RYC and CDN.

I had a plan sorted (which was really a delaying tactic anyway cause I didnt know what I wanted to do after I left school ( I still dont ))

But its that sort of sureity or arrogance in planning that we are looking at in James tonight.

For us we see the scripture tonight being split across 2 chapters, but keep in mind the verse and chapter numbers were added way after the Bible was orginally written, the division of chapters and verses isnt a divine part of the text, just a helpful reference guide for us.

So the passage tonight addresses 2 groups

you who say “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certian town and will stay there a year. we will do business there and make a profit”

The Rich

Both of those groups seem to be showing a real arrogance in the way they live, trusting in themselves, their wisdom, and what they can gather.

“Today or tomorrow we are going to a certian town and will stay there a year. we will do business there and make a profit”

I can 100% see 18 year olf JC as one of the you who say “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certian town and will stay there a year. we will do business there and make a profit”

that was 100% my attitude, I wanted stuff that wasnt wrong in and of itself, Like I wasnt planning out how much meth I could sell to preschoolers But my focus was on me, without the humilty of acknowlding God.

I dont think (and no does anyone else I read who looked at this passage) James is giving us an easy rote way out of this, we cant just say “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and go to McDs or KFC after youth group” or “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and go to School on monday” Throughout the Bible we see time and time again God isnt interested in vain repeition of words so much as a heart that wants to follow up. So sorry saying “If the Lord wants us to, we will live” isnt a cheat code to do whatever you want.

The Rich

So thats a quick look at arrogance in how we spend our time and make our plans, but what about how we spend our money.

Theres some debate about who the rich people here are,

MAYBE James is telling off a group of people in the church, but that seems odd becuase theres no telling them what to do or talk of salvation.

OR MAYBE James is giving Christians comfort telling them “I know the rich are exploting you at the moment, BUT the Lord of Heavens army, (LORD of Hosts as some translations put it which is just a fancy Bible word for armies) is on your side. So wait paitently for God to show his judgement.

Regardless of whos being addressed there seems to be some pretty harsh warnigns so it would probaly pay to take them serious aye? Like if theres a chance they are pointed at us we should really look into that right, cause I dont want any of of my stuf to “eat away at my flesh like fire”

An easy out is to see this pointing at a Bill Gates, Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. Like those men have serisously exploited their workers and try and cover it up with a bunch of charty work thats probably really just something their accountant told them to do to reduce their tax burden. If you cant tell Im really not a fan of them.

But lowkey I get recpeits from charities I have given to and send them into the IRD to get a sweet tax refund each year. Like the thing I cynically believe that those uber wealthy are doing with their giving is the same thing I am doing on a smaller scale. Which really makes me think, would I be any different in their shoes?

Like I live in luxery