Why Worry about Tomorrow?

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. (NIV)

            Bill had just celebrated his 74^th birthday. His wife of forty years passed a year prior and his three sons were grown with children of their own. Bill had lived a very fulfilled life when he received the news that he had advanced pancreatic cancer. Bill did not let anyone know about his diagnosis, He decided to delay the broadcast until he had done some things on the bucket list that he created after receiving the news. 

            Bill called his sons to let them know that he was going to be taking a two-week vacation on a cruise to the Mediterranean Sea. They were surprised because their father had not been anywhere outside of this small country living other than when he was in the military in World War II. One of the sons, while they were on the phone, asked his father about the sudden urgency to go on a cruise due to most people planning a year in advance for such an extended vacation. Without letting his sons know about his diagnosis, so that they wouldn’t be worried while he was away, he said, “Life is short and every day is a blessing from God. Your dear mother is gone, and now I am here by myself after many wonderful years. However, I choose not to put off for tomorrow what God have given me the ability to do today. Therefore, I am going to live my 74^th year as if it were my last.” Indeed, it was his last year, but his sons were comforted in knowing that their father left a happy man.

            The Apostle James lets us know that tomorrow is not promised to us. Many people make plans for the future and nothing is wrong with that, but those plans should not exclude God. In everything that we do, our mindset should be, “If God is willing…” Isaiah 46:10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. (NIV) God is the only one who knows our future. Therefore, it is wise to consult God prior to making any plans for our future.

            Many people have worried themselves to an early grave over things that is beyond their control. God is the only one who can ensure that our future is a success. Worrying does nothing for anyone, but harm the body and deplete the soul. Jesus gave instructions for the worrywart.

Matthew 6:25-34 ⁽²⁵⁾ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ⁽²⁶⁾Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ⁽²⁷⁾Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ? ⁽²⁸⁾ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ⁽²⁹⁾Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ⁽³¹⁾So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ⁽³²⁾For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ⁽³³⁾But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ⁽³⁴⁾Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (NIV)

            Men tend to worry over various things in life. How am I going to pay the bills? Can I get my wife that new car? How can I pay my children’s college fund? Am I going to get that promotion? The list goes on and on. However, know that God is the only one who has the answers for your future and He is also the One you must rely on. Worrying will never accomplish anything other than giving you an ulcer. Trust in God and allow Him to do the rest.

The Book of James: 30 Days of Devotion for Men by K L Rich available on Amazon.com.