Today’s reading is James 4.
We are not to speak evil against one another, slandering one another. Additionally, we are not to boast against, over, or above the Lord. That is, we must recognize who is actually in control. Not me. Therefore, I do not simply declare my plans, but rather recognize my plans will only come to fruition if the Lord willingly allows them. The Proverbialist wrote, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21, ESV). I may develop all kinds of plans, but my plans do not command the universe.
My thoughts and plans do not create reality. Some suggest a mystical impact between my thinking and reality. They claim our thinking goes out into the universe, the cosmos, and bends or shapes reality to our will. They suggest if I think and plan properly, my thinking and planning manifests it in reality. Some try to Christianize this as if it is the same as praying. We should be very careful to take up the modern encouragement of “My thoughts and prayers are with you.” Thinking and praying are not the same thing. Letting someone know you’re thinking about them is encouraging. Believing your thoughts are circling the cosmos and somehow creating a reality in that person’s life is just not true. Be aware, this worldview stems from the pantheistic concepts of Buddhism, Hinduism, New Age Mysticism. Because pantheists wrongly believe the entirety of the universe, including you and me, is God, they also wrongly believe when you and I think and plan, it is God thinking and planning. James denies this.
It’s one thing to set goals and even envision them as a disciplining strategy to direct your behavior. But when this goal-setting strategy slips into thinking your plans create reality, you’ve slipped into error and heresy. Our thinking and planning is distinct from God’s thinking and planning. We do not create reality. God is the creator, we are not. If the Lord refuses to allow our plans to come to fruition, no amount of planning, visualizing, envisioning, goal-setting will make it happen. We will not manifest reality by our plans and thoughts.
Our thinking does not enter the ether and impact the cosmos. However, our prayers go to God and impact Him. We can ask God about our plans. We can seek God’s blessing for our plans. If God is willing, He can make our plans a reality. If He is unwilling, our plans will come to nothing. In fact, we may die before we even get started on our plans.
James more than implies this is especially tempting to the wealthy. Perhaps based on passed success, perhaps based on the seemingly sound nature of their planning, perhaps based on high self-esteem, the wealthy can tend to think their good planning is all that is needed. God says such boasting is evil. All of our plans must submit to the willingness to God. We do not resign our plans to God’s willingness, but submit them to God’s willingness. That is, if we figure out God is not willing regarding our plans, we change our plans. Therefore, the one who knows the right thing to do, but doesn’t do it is sinning.
We are not God who creates reality. Our thinking and planning will not manifest reality. Our God, however, does manifest and create reality. Let’s pray to Him. Let’s submit to Him. Let’s not boast in our arrogance, but only in Him.
Next week’s reading is James 5.
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Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family
- What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
- What are we admitting about God and ourselves when we submit all our plans to “If the Lord wills”?
- This is more than just saying, “If the Lord wills.” How do we actually live with that submission to the Lord’s will?
- Why is it wrong to avoid doing what we know is right?
- What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?
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