PLANNING OR BOASTING?
(Adapted, by James “Bo” Rye.)
Are you a PLANNER? I believe that many of us are, as we recognize that planning is necessary to accomplishing our goals. Conversely, are you a BOASTER - someone who brags constantly? Telltale phrases include, "I don't want to brag, but…" or "I hate to toot my own horn, but…" (Those hearing such words know that some serious boasting is about to commence.) The bottom line is that being a planner is typically positive, but being a boaster is definitely negative.
As Christians, we may tell others about our plans for tomorrow, next week, or beyond. In doing so we usually consider ourselves to be planners, not boasters. Yet in divulging future plans is easy to overlook how LITTLE control we have over the events of tomorrow and beyond. And if we ignore our lack of control and the uncertainty of life, we may actually end up boasting.
Every Christians needs to habitually re-read James 4:13-16. “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.”
If we will remember those words when making or sharing our plans, we will accomplish four wonderful things:
1) It will remind us of WHO is in charge.
2) It will remind others about WHO is in charge.
3) It will demonstrate our faith in GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY.
4) It may prompt unbelievers to ask what we mean by, “If the Lord wills”, giving us the
opportunity share our faith!
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
(Adapted, by James “Bo” Rye.)
Are you a PLANNER? I believe that many of us are, as we recognize that planning is necessary to accomplishing our goals. Conversely, are you a BOASTER - someone who brags constantly? Telltale phrases include, "I don't want to brag, but…" or "I hate to toot my own horn, but…" (Those hearing such words know that some serious boasting is about to commence.) The bottom line is that being a planner is typically positive, but being a boaster is definitely negative.
As Christians, we may tell others about our plans for tomorrow, next week, or beyond. In doing so we usually consider ourselves to be planners, not boasters. Yet in divulging future plans is easy to overlook how LITTLE control we have over the events of tomorrow and beyond. And if we ignore our lack of control and the uncertainty of life, we may actually end up boasting.
Every Christians needs to habitually re-read James 4:13-16. “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.”
If we will remember those words when making or sharing our plans, we will accomplish four wonderful things:
1) It will remind us of WHO is in charge.
2) It will remind others about WHO is in charge.
3) It will demonstrate our faith in GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY.
4) It may prompt unbelievers to ask what we mean by, “If the Lord wills”, giving us the
opportunity share our faith!
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis
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