Following God’s Plans
Dexu Xia
If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. James 4:15
Today's Scripture James 4:13-17
Today's Insights James, the half brother of Christ and leader of the church in Jerusalem (Galatians 1:19; 2:9), wrote to Jewish believers in Jesus living outside of Israel (James 1:1). James deals with a church characterized by a rich-poor divide, with favoritism shown to the wealthy, and the rich exploiting the poor (2:1-10; 5:1-6). The rich espoused a worldly and materialistic outlook (4:4-17). James warns these arrogant and self-confident wealthy believers—who think they have the future securely in their hand—that they too are precariously subjected to the uncertainties, brevity, and the frailty of life (v. 14; 5:1-3). Boasting and trusting in themselves is sin. Instead, James tells them to put their trust in God for their future (4:15-16) and to use their material wealth to do good and to help the poor (1:27). The apostle Paul gave a similar command to rich believers in 1 Timothy 6:17-19.
Today's Devotional I was unable to focus on a work project because of anxiety; I was afraid that my plans for it wouldn’t succeed. My anxiety came from pride. I believed my timeline and plans were best, so I wanted them to proceed unhindered. A question broke through my thoughts, however: Are your plans God’s plans?
The problem wasn’t my planning—God calls us to be wise stewards of our time, opportunities, and resources. The problem was my arrogance. I was fixated on my understanding of events and how I wanted them to turn out, not on God’s purpose and how He wanted my plans to turn out.
James encourages us to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that” (4:15). We’re to plan not with a presumptuous mindset, thinking we know everything and have control over our life, but from a position of submission to God’s sovereignty and wisdom. After all, we “do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” In our humanness, we’re helpless and weak, like “a mist that appears . . . and then vanishes” (v. 14).
Only God has authority and power over everything in our lives; we don’t. Through the Scriptures and the people, resources, and circumstances He allows each day, He guides us to live in submission to His will and ways. Our plans aren’t to come from following ourselves but from following Him.
Reflect & Pray When you make plans apart from God’s leading, what’s the outcome? What plans can you submit to His authority?
Dear God, please help me to submit to You and to let go of my plans for my life and embrace Yours. By Karen Huang
遵循上帝的计划
主若愿意，我们就可以活着，也可以做这事，或做那事。雅各书 4:15
今日经文 雅各书 4章13-17节
今日心得 雅各是基督的同母异父的兄弟，也是耶路撒冷教会的领袖（加拉太书 1:19；2:9），雅各书是他写给住在以色列以外的犹太信徒的信（雅各书 1:1）。雅各处理的是一个以贫富差距为特征的教会，这教会偏袒剥削穷人的富人（2:1-10；5:1-6）。这些富人信奉世俗和物质主义的观点（4:4-17）。雅各警告这些傲慢、自信、富有的信徒，他们认为未来掌握在自己手中，其实在生命的不确定、短暂和脆弱中，他们的处境也岌岌可危（14节；5:1-3）。自夸和自以为是，就是罪。相反，雅各告诉他们要信靠上帝来计划他们的未来（4:15-16），要用他们的物质财富行善和帮助穷人（1:27）。使徒保罗在提摩太前书 6章17-19节中也给富有的信徒相似的命令。
今日灵修 我因为焦虑而无法专注于一个工作项目；我担心我的计划不会成功。我的焦虑来自骄傲。我相信我的时间表和计划是最好的，所以我希望它们能够不受阻碍地进行。然而，一个问题突然闯入我的脑海：你的计划是上帝的计划吗？问题不在于我的计划，上帝呼吁我们明智地管理我们的时间、机会和资源。问题在于我的傲慢。我专注于我对事件的理解以及我希望它们如何发展，而不是上帝的目的以及他希望我的计划如何发展。
雅各鼓励我们说：“主若愿意，我们就可以活着，也可以做这事或做那事”（4:15）。我们不应该以自以为是的心态定计划，认为我们知道一切，可以控制自己的生活，而应该从顺服上帝的主权和智慧的角度来计划。毕竟，我们“甚至不知道明天会发生什么”。作为人，我们是无助和软弱的，就像“出现少时就不见了的云雾”（14节）。只有上帝才有权柄和能力掌控我们生活中的一切；我们没有。通过圣经和他每天允许我们接触的人、资源和环境，上帝引导我们顺服他的旨意和方式。我们的计划不是来自跟随自己，而是来自跟随上帝。
反思和祈祷 当你在上帝的带领之外制定计划，会有什么结果？你愿意顺服在上帝的权威之下制定你的计划吗？ 亲爱的上帝，请帮助我顺服祢，放下我对生活的计划，拥抱祢的计划。作者：黄凯伦