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Tuesday 26 July 2011

Should we boast about the future?






I have many friends who are discontented with their current lot. They say “when my husband earns more money we’ll get a bigger house”, “when we get the kids off our hands we’ll get a decent car”, “when we retire, we’ll go on a cruise”.
Maybe I boast of the future too as I plan for my sons to go to university, as I  talk about my next holiday or as I look forward to a day off?



James 4 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.
 As we trust in God’s provision for the present, we should accept his will for our future. I’m more of a worrier than a boaster, I would really like to be sure of what will happen tomorrow. The uncontrollable uncertainties in my life are waking me up at four am to relive the worst case scenario. I remind myself daily Do not be anxious about anything,

James 4 also says “You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” and that God opposes the proud but lifts up the humble.

I pray that I will be able to ask in humility for what I need rather than for those pleasures that I want And that I may so show an acceptance of God’s plan and purpose in my life that it may be a blessing and help to my friends..




6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4 

1 comment:

  1. Wow. I think I need to go back to James -- those verses really hit me upside the head! And yes, I've had many a "when...then moment" -- always living for the next moment and ignoring the present. Not a fulfilling way to live, that's for sure.

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