By Pastor Murray
“Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.” (Proverbs 27:1, NKJV)
We have heard this verse many times, yet until recently it has been easy to overlook it. We often hear this repeated in another form
“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”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13–16, NKJV)
Most of us have heard these verses many times, but until now we have often ignored it. We plan an event or an activity for a certain time and we are absolutely certain that it will take place as planned.
Like most of us, Laurice and I also have plans. We were absolutely certain that the Lord would have us to be in Turkey right now on a conducted tour “In the Footsteps of St Paul”. We regarded our participation on this tour as being absolutely certain. We were sure that “If the Lord wills” was definitely the case – He did will!
However, along with just about everybody else, plans have had to change. Nobody expected the world to be in the turmoil it is at present, or that plans would have to be so radically changed. We need to take these verses more seriously and recognise that nothing is certain in this world – we must rely on the Lord, He is reliable.
This does not mean that we should not plan ahead. To fail to plan is foolhardy and shows arrogant pride, but let us ensure that our plans comply with His plans for our lives. We cannot control the future, and no one can presume on God’s plan.
Remember the words and experience of David:
“Now in my prosperity I said, “I shall never be moved.” LORD, by Your favour You have made my mountain stand strong; You hid Your face, and I was troubled.” (Psalm 30:6–7, NKJV)
David said that he would not be moved, but God had different ideas – God intervened and his plans failed to materialize.
Spurgeon considered what a blessing it was that we do not know what a day may bring forth. “To know the good might lead us to presumption, to know the evil might tempt us to despair. Happy for us is it that our eyes cannot penetrate the thick veil which God hangs between us and tomorrow, that we cannot see beyond the spot where we now are, and that, in a certain sense, we are utterly ignorant as to the details of the future. We may, indeed, be thankful for our ignorance.”
Remember these words of Solomon:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5–6, NKJV)
Surrender your future to Him. Acknowledge Him. you can trust Him to control and direct your future.
May God’s richest blessings be with you, with those in your bubble and with those you would like to have in your bubble.