Read: James 4: 13-16

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—
14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.
15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

Reflect:

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry – adapted from Robert Burns’ “To a Mouse.”

Most of us have some kind of plan for our lives and some appear to be more scripted than others. This week I had breakfast with a man who discussed his expectations of his ninety day plan, the one year plan and the five year outlook as part of his business planning.

Isn’t it interesting that today’s reading from James reminds us that our lives are a lot like a “mist that appears fro a little time and then vanishes.” Sobering, huh?

The point is that whether we are involved in business or any other aspect of life, we should recognize God’s hand in our lives.

Respond:

So, as many of us wrap up another work week, how many of us are attempting to go it alone and on our own?