D.V.
Some people love to watch people. They find a quiet spot in a busy place to sit and watch life go by. I do too, but not in that way. I’m fascinated by the passing of years in peoples lives and how time changes everything. The once beautiful young woman, now aged, stooped and wrinkled. The once highly driven and ambitious achiever, now spending their days watching daytime TV. It fascinates me, and reminds me that life is brief, …I need to spend it well. As the words of Thomas Gray’s famous elegy says: “The paths of glory lead but to the grave.”
James in chapter 4, verses 13-17 has been people watching as well, and has some strong words of advice to give. The people he’s particularly addressing are those involved in business, but the advice he shares could be applied to anyone of us. Let me share the verses:
James 4:13-17 NIV [13] 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.” [14] Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. [15] Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.” [16] As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. [17] If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do it, it is sin for them.
James is not condemning the self employed or the travelling salesman. He’s not deploring the making of money or chastising the entrepreneur. None of that in itself is wrong. He’s simply saying that plans made that exclude God is ultimate foolishness. Why - because they fail to take in to consideration that we’re only here for a while and after that we must give an account to God for how we’ve spent our lives. …We are, (as he says), “a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”
These people had it all worked out. They had ticked every box. They had the plan - “today or tomorrow.” …The place - “we will go to this or that city.” …The period - “spend a year there.” …The program - “carry on business.” …And the purpose - “to make money.” Everything for their life ahead was thought about. Everything that is, except God. God had not been consulted. There was no prayer meeting, no searching of the Scripture, no listening to conscience, and so as a result God was excluded from their plan. Not only that, but they boasted about it. I can imagine him people-watching the end of this business meeting, as they crack open the champagne. James sums it up for what it is - it’s an evil arrogant scheme that’s doomed to failure.
This passage reminded me of a Latin phrase we need to incorporate into our plans, (whether those are long term career goals, or short term aspirations), - “Deo volente.” It means “God willing.” We often hear it as “D.V.” It means that I will do this or that, only if God wills it. Surely it injects humility into our thinking, and it reminds us that there is a sovereign God in heaven who rules over every aspect of life.
Maybe you’re a young person choosing a career option - pray and ask for God’s guidance. He knows the best path for you. Maybe, (like the passage), you’re in business - be humble and include God in your life. One thing is sure for us all - “life is brief and death is certain.” We should empty our lives of proud planning and submit all things to His ordering hand. …We’ll pray.
Lord you are eternal and I am not. You know everything and I do not. Your thoughts are greater than mine, and your ways are higher than those I’d chose for myself. Lead me in your plans I pray. Amen.