Futile Forecast

Read Proverbs 27

Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.

Proverbs 27:1

James, the brother of Jesus, penned one of the finest comments on the truth of this passage: “Look here, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.’ How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.’ Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it” (James 4:13-17).

According to James, we don’t ignore tomorrow. But we don’t take it for granted either. Because God holds the future, we make plans based on his overriding will and wisdom. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, but we know and trust someone who does!

A WORD FOR TODAY

Live for God today; trust him with tomorrow.

Dear Lord, it is easy to presume on tomorrow—even on the rest of today. Help me to treasure each moment as a gift from you.