James 4:17, New International Version

“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

In James 4:13–17, we find a needed reminder for hearts that love to plan and predict. James calls out a mindset we all slip into: making our plans without truly seeking the Lord. He writes, “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’” On the surface, there’s nothing wrong with planning. But the issue James addresses is the pride that creeps in when we start to think we’re in control of our own future.

He points out the reality we often forget: “You do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” Our lives are like a mist—here for a little while, then gone. It’s a humbling image that puts our ambitions and anxieties into perspective. The truth is, we have

far less control than we like to admit. But that doesn’t mean we should live in fear. Instead, it invites us to live in trust—holding our plans with open hands and seeking the Lord’s will above our own.

James gives us a simple but powerful phrase to guide our hearts: “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” It’s not just something to tack onto our prayers, it’s an attitude of surrender. It’s a daily reminder that our days belong to Him. When we acknowledge God’s sovereignty, we find a freedom we can’t get from self-reliance. We make plans, yes—but we entrust those plans to the One who sees the end from the beginning.

James also calls this mindset anything but trivial. He says that boasting about our arrogant schemes is evil. Why? Because it puts us at the center instead of God. It assumes that we’re the master of our days when, in reality, every breath we take is a gift from Him. That’s why James closes with these sobering words: “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” He reminds us that obedience isn’t just about avoiding wrong—it’s about doing what is right when the Lord makes it clear.

So, as we make plans for today and tomorrow, may we do so with humble hearts that say, “Lord, if You will.” Let’s live wisely, work diligently, and dream boldly—but always under the covering of God’s good and perfect will. In a world where tomorrow is never guaranteed, that kind of trust is what brings true peace.

(All scripture quotations in this article are from the New International Version)