The James Study - Faith and Fitness ChallengeSample

Boasting About the Future and Your Finances

How many times have you made plans that never happened? The older I get, the more I realize how little control I have over the events of my life, so when I announce a plan I’ve made, I add, ‘Lord willing!’

In the summer of 2020, my wife and I were supposed to do a ministry tour of the UK. Instead, Covid happened, and all those plans were canceled. In the fall of 2022, we were on a college tour with Passion Conferences but had to cut it short because our daughter got sick. All these plans we’d made and told others about didn’t materialize. So, thanks to James who tells us not to boast about our plans, I’ve adjusted my expectations. No matter how much planning, preparing, and scheduling I do, I’ve no idea what my life will look like tomorrow. Conflicts and delays have surrounded the past couple of trips we’ve planned, but when I’ve mentioned the travel plans, I’ve followed up with a ‘Lord willing,’ which has helped me reframe setbacks as part of God’s perfect purpose.

James concludes chapter 4 by warning us that if we know the right thing to do and fail to do it, we’re sinning against God. This is so convicting, because it can be easy to compromise through comparison (‘At least I’m not as bad as that person!’), but only we know what the Spirit has convicted us to do or not do. Today, ask yourself: What has God prompted me to do? Have I done it? If not, why not?

At the start of chapter 5, James warns the wealthy. It can be easy to point fingers at certain rich, influential people and say, ‘These verses are about them, not me!’ The truth is, if you make $34,000 a year (or the equivalent in your currency), you’re part of the global top one percent. And shockingly, James tells us that the very wealth we’re counting on will eat away at us and make us miserable – because stinginess and selfish spending never satisfied anyone. He’s urging us instead to trust the Lord and find our comfort and security in Him, because He’s enough. Throughout scripture, we come across the idea that hoarded wealth causes harm. Of course, money – or making money – isn’t evil in and of itself. There’s so much we can do for God’s Kingdom with finances. It’s when we’re enslaved to money that it causes untold problems. Jesus tells us we can serve either God or money, not both. What’s more, our money isn’t ours at all; it’s God’s. We’re just borrowers, called to steward God’s money well.

So, today’s challenge is to humbly surrender your plans to God, and to reflect on whether you’re finding your security in money or using it to bless others and further the God’s Kingdom.

First the Word – now the Workout:

1-mile run

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10x (if you’re up for it)

10 push-ups

10 chin ups