JAMES 4:13 - 17
FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2007
“IF THE GOOD LORD’S WILLING AND THE CREEK DON’T RISE”
13 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”; 14 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. 15
Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this
or that.” 16 But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is
evil. 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to
him it is sin. James 4:13-17 (NKJV)
A NOTE FROM RON - Most of the time I
choose--at random--passages from Scripture without a particular reason.
There are times when I feel that God has led me to choose a passage
needed by someone who might use these devotions. Occasionally, I like to
do a series that covers every verse of a Book of the Bible so that the
devotions can also be used as an aid in Bible Study. Recently I did such
a series on the
First Epistle of John.
These can be found in the
ARCHIVES of Prayer and Devotions. I
like to choose Books of the Bible that are less often read and/or
studied. This is the twelfth devotion of a series on the Book of James. It
is my hope that these words may be an instrument of God in helping you
to draw nearer to Him.
Many, many years ago one of my favorite TV programs was ”THE JIMMY DEAN
SHOW.” If I remember correctly, Jimmy Dean closed each program with this
farewell quote. I’ll be back next week “If the Good Lord’s willing and
the creek don’t rise.” Just in case my memory is giving me false
information and someone else used the phrase to close his or her show,
my apologies to that person. I don’t know why Jimmy Dean used this
farewell phrase, but I like it because it helps me to remember these
words from James.
At first glance these words seem simple enough. The only real question
that might arise is, “Why is James upset because someone says that he is
going some place today or tomorrow? A few verses later James even calls
them arrogant for boasting about what they will do when they go. James
explains -- How can you know that you are going to be alive tomorrow;
your life is like a vapor and could be gone tomorrow. He continues by
saying it would be better if you said something like, IF THE GOOD LORD’S
WILLING, I will do this or that.
How many times have you stated very clearly that you would do something
or be someplace at a definite time and date? What percentage of the time
did something interfere and you were not able to do it. I am not talking
about business appointment I’m talking about things like:
I’ll be over to see you next week.
I’ll send you a note tomorrow.
Tell _____ I will stop at the Nursing Home this week to visit.
There could be a very long list. The important thing for one who has gone through the trials and been a victor because of Christ on the Cross, is we must always acknowledge that all we do must be done according to God’s WILL.
Thus, “IF THE GOOD LORD’S WILLING” must imply “if I am alive and if what
I want to do is acceptable to God, then I will do it.
Now what about “IF THE CREEK DON’T RISE?” If the creek should rise, if
it is God’s will that you do it, you better find a boat or swim across.
WE PRAY. Heavenly Father, spur me on to do all that I can for you today.
Then if it is your will that I am still here tomorrow, spur me on again.
AMEN
A SUGGESTION FOR LIVING THE DEVOTION
If the name of someone comes into your mind, take time right then to
think a brief prayer for that person. Don’t wait for a better time.