James 4:13-17 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. 

Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
An apple a day keeps the doctor ____.

"Money is the root of all evil."

Today or tomorrow we will go to this city, spend a year there, do business, and make a profit

James 4:13 "Come now" 

FEAR:  (if I stop, I'll have to feel),

Insecurity:  Treat busyness as proof of worth. 

PRIDE:  (Look how needed I am), 

Unbelief (I'll secure tomorrow, because I'm not sure God will)

Gospel-driven person find security in Gods approval, not achievement. 

God isn't asking us to stop planning. He's asking you to stop planning as if you were God.

3 Mistakes We All Make

MISTAKE 1 — Planning Without God

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.'"

Luke 14:28  no one builds a tower without first counting the cost.

He has WHEN, WHERE, WHAT, WHY… but the WHO is missing.

James 4:15 Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that 

1 Corinthians 4:19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing. 

James 4:16  "As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." 

MISTAKE 2 — Presuming About Tomorrow 

James 4:14 — "You do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

2 things we like to think we have but to not: 

KNOWLEDGE ("you do not know") 

PERMANENCE ("you are a mist"). Greek atmos gives us "atmosphere": fog that rolls in at dawn and burns off by noon.

1 — Life is unpredictable

2 — Life is short

MISTAKE 3 — Putting Off the Important 

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

Luke 12:16-21 — "I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones… Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you.'"

God isn't asking us to stop planning. He's asking you to stop planning as if you were God.