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FOR WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10
James 4:13-14

Psalm 39:4-5

 

“…verily every man at his best state

is altogether vanity…”

 

FOR WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?
 
How long is our life here on earth? Read the Psalmist’s answer in Psalm 90:9-10.
 
Boast not: Many Christians today are comfortably settled in life. They have their long-term plans as though they have many years at their disposal. Believers ought to depend on God always. Nobody knows the future, not even one moment of it. It is ridiculous to boast about what we will do tomorrow. What James reproves here is the arrogance of man. They have so many things in their minds, as if “they are counting the chicks before the eggs are hatched.” The rich fool in Jesus’ parable says, “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (Luke 12:19).
 
Forget not: The question for that rich fool is, “Does he know if he will still be alive tomorrow?” Jesus continues that parable above by saying, “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:20). We must not forget the brevity of life. James uses the similitude of the vapour. The original word refers to steam or mist. Figuratively, it refers to the transient nature of earthly life. It also reflects the frailty, shortness and uncertainty of life.
 
Dear reader, we are unsure what is ahead of us. We can fix the hour and minute in our plan, but we cannot be certain how it will turn out. We may not live to see what we set out to do. Such is our life. It appears but for a time, and then vanishes away. The word “vanisheth” describes something that disappears or becomes unrecognisable. This is the world that we are in.
 
However, there is a life that will continue in the other world for believers. Since this life is so uncertain, why not prepare ourselves for this sure and secured future? Why not plan for it now?
 
THOUGHT: Am I looking ahead with eternity’s values in view?
PRAYER: Father, point my heart towards Thy eternal Kingdom in heaven. May I not look down on this momentary world.

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