Episode 161 - Your life is like a vapor - James 4:13-17

James 4:13   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. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

In our last episode, James called out brothers in the church who judged others. Essentially, they were putting themselves in place of God, James argued. What is at the root of that attitude? Pride. 

One might think that James is moving to a different issue in verse 13. He is no longer talking about judging others. Yet, you don’t have to read much further to discover that he’s still addressing the issue of pride. It’s just expressed in a different way.

James' hypothetical statement apparently reflects an attitude among some of the believers to whom he’s writing whose pride leads them to think they are on top of life, that they are the master of their own lives and nothing can stop them. James deftly exposes the reality that we are finite, mortal creatures. The first “silver bullet” in this errant and arrogant attitude is “you do not know what tomorrow brings.” (14a) None of us are omniscient. We should not act like we have absolute knowledge or control over what happens in our life when it’s clear that we don’t. 

James follows that with a rhetorical question that he answers. “What is your life?” This is an important question for us today. If we have the attitude that we can make plans to increase our own sense of security or success, it reveals an unrealistic expectation that we are going to be around indefinitely as the “king of the hill.” It’s a little more subtle than playing judge to those around us. But, fundamentally, we’re still acting like we’re our own god through this kind of thinking. Jesus addressed a similar kind of attitude by telling people not to be anxious about their earthly needs. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these (earthly) things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:25-33)

James' answer to his question is, “For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (14b) Compared to eternity, this earthly life is like a vapor that quickly disappears. All of our efforts to serve ourselves and our pride are pointless and with no eternal value. 

James’ antidote to this arrogant attitude is not to simply be passive and allow whatever might happen to happen. Rather, make plans for intentional activity but submit to God’s direction and authority over the turns our life may take that are outside of our control. James says of their attitudes that they are boasting, which reveals their arrogance. “All such boasting is evil,” James asserts. (16b)

This section and chapter conclude with James’ statement, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (v. 17)

Let’s consider this for a moment. Someone might ask, “How do I know what is the right thing to do?” How do you think James would answer that question? I think he would answer, “Ask God for wisdom. He will give it to you.” It’s important to realize that the God of the Bible is not some supernatural force with a “dark side” that seeks to deceive us and lead us astray. Our God has revealed his character within the Scriptures and, most clearly, through the Incarnation of his Son Jesus. He has also given us the Holy Spirit to guide us in truth and wisdom. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, lead us in wisdom and humility that in this short life you’ve given us, we may seek what is of your eternal kingdom that is to come. Thank you for providing everything I need today.