If the Lord Wills
Our world is much like the New Testament world concerning buying and selling merchandise and being involved in marketing a product. Business involves planning how to market and sell your goods. God cares about our business endeavors. But He wants us to see the importance of not boasting about our work. James calls it arrogant to boast about business efforts as if we are the ones in charge and our successes come because of what we have done (James 4:13-17).
Earlier James revealed that every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with Whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). God is the provider of everything we have. Our very lives come from Him. We must understand that everything we are able to do is based on God's blessings for us (Matthew 6:25-34).
Another sobering truth centers on the brevity of life. We simply have no promise of another day. Our personal life span is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (James 4:14). Our future lives depend on God's providential care.
So, everything that we plan to do or we are doing should be prefaced with the words, "If the Lord wills..." (James 4:15). This acknowledgment of God's involvement in our lives demonstrates our humble attitude concerning every aspect of our day-to-day activities. If we believe that God cares about what we are doing and that God is involved in what we are doing, then we will not arrogantly boast in our work.
It is important that we stay away from evil and do that which is good. In fact, when we know there is something good we should be doing and we do not do it, then we have sinned (James 4:17). We know if the Lord is willing we will be buying and selling, going to school, and living a long and prosperous life to the glory of God!
