Editor: Ifeanyi Asonye
I remember this time last year in this part of the world [Nigeria]; there was so much noise about “No gree for anybody in 2024.” Now, as we approach the end of the year, the journey feels like a flash.
It’s that season again when we do all sorts—vigils, retreats, fasting and prayer, prophecies—you name it, all in the hope of having a smooth 2025. That’s a conversation for another day, but today I’d like to focus on planning. I presume that beneath all the drama, there is some sort of plan.
We will discuss this in light of scripture:
James 4:13-17
“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’—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. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So, whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
As an introduction, in the earlier verses of this chapter, James addresses worldliness—marked by wisdom and devices from the world. You can sense that James carried this same assumption into the subject of planning. This implies that James understood the distinction between the way unbelievers plan and the way true believers ought to plan.
“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’—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.
Planning is good. Many of us use tools that make planning seamless in our bid to be effective and productive. These tools have made things so predictable that it often feels like we can control outcomes. We see this reflected in verse 13. James paints a picture of what some of us are thinking right now. We’ve scribbled down five-year plans and broken them into daily chunks—great! But here’s the disappointment: verse 14 shows us we are ignorant, fickle, and, worse still, arrogant.
Luke 12:16-30 illustrates how oblivious we are to who is truly in control. This type of planning eliminates God entirely. People assume they are in charge of their personal lives, careers, families, and even spiritual growth. Unfortunately, some believers still think this way. Why? Two major reasons:
- Forgetfulness: We become so consumed with our routines that we forget God. We know our daily and weekly schedules down to the letter but rarely think about Him. This leads to the second issue.
- Lack of Prayer: In our minds, why pray when everything seems perfectly planned out?
How, Then, Should We Prepare?
James offers a better way for believers to prepare:
1. Plan with Providence
“Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogance.”
Let’s be honest—tomorrow is unpredictable. You can’t foresee what will happen, so why assume you can plan an entire year without God? Deuteronomy 29:29 reminds us that the secret things belong to the Lord. God works things out through His providence. This means acknowledging that God orders all things according to His will, and we must submit to it. This is a posture of faith.
Consider Paul’s letters:
- 1 Corinthians 4:19
- 1 Corinthians 16:7
- Romans 1:9-10
James is not implying that simply saying “If the Lord wills” (Deo volente) signifies submission. Rather, it marks a life genuinely surrendered to God’s will. Some may say it without meaning it, but a heart truly submitted to God trusts Him to order events and circumstances.
James also isn’t suggesting that believers shouldn’t plan. Without planning, we risk being unfaithful, inconsistent, and irresponsible. The issue lies not in planning itself but in planning apart from God.
For believers, whether things go according to plan or not, we can confidently say, like the hymn writer:
“For I know, whate’er befalls me, Jesus doeth all things well.” – All the way my Savior leads me
2. Plan with Humility
Instead of the ignorance and arrogance seen in verses 13 and 14, believers should:
- Dedicate plans to God through prayer. This acknowledges our limitations and weaknesses. No plan is too big or small to pray over.
- Submit plans to God’s will. Plan diligently, but always subordinate your plans to God’s greater plan. Proverbs 19:21 reminds us:
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” - Give thanks at every step. Even when things don’t go as planned, give thanks. God’s providence may lead to unexpected outcomes. Job exemplifies this attitude:
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) - Trust God above your plans. Proverbs 3:5 urges us to:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”
Finally, in verse 17, James addresses us directly. Now that we know the right approach, failing to act accordingly is sin. The wrong way is to plan under the illusion that we are in control. The right way is to abandon the mindset that elevates our plans above God’s will.
God may be calling you to a different path from what you’ve planned. No matter how much of a control freak you are, you will struggle. Come to Jesus, and He will give you the grace to submit to His will—even as we prepare for the new year.
This is an excerpt from the sermon preached by Eleazar Maduka of Sovereign Grace Lekki Church on December 29, 2024.