So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.
James 4:17
I love making plans; I love dreaming about the future and what could be. This gets me into trouble at times, especially when this same imagination begins to piece together a future of ungodly fear.
In the previous verses, James established that making plans for our unknown future without considering God is foolish and sinful. Perhaps you have made plans for the future that are grandiose; maybe other times you have made plans for the future that include some ungodly fear. In verse 17, James takes his warning about future plans a step further. Not considering God in our plans is one thing, not considering God’s plans is another.*
James is effectively saying, “Do not merely say that you want to know God’s will or that you recognize your dependence on his will; look carefully at what God has already said about his will, and do that.”*
In these verses, James introduces the concept of sins of commission and sins of omission, and he places them on equal ground.* Sins of commission being those things that we do knowing that they are sin, and sins of omission being those things that we do not do knowing that we should.
While making plans about the future and not considering God is a denial of God and His rightful place in our lives and this world, not doing what God plans for us also denies His rightful place in our lives and this world.*
You have plans; talk to and submit to God. Take it further, ask Him about His plans and make them your plans.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to ask God if there is something that He asked you to do that you have not yet done. Perhaps today God wants you to stop that behavior, attitude, or action that you know should not be a part of your life. Maybe today God would have you pause and ask Him what His plan is for you in this season of your life. Perhaps today God would have you make His plans your plans.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus.
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*Blomberg, C. L., & Kamell, M. J. (2008). James (Vol. 16, pp. 210–211). Zondervan.
Guthrie, G. H. (2006). James. In T. Longman III & D. E. Garland (Eds.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews–Revelation (Revised Edition) (Vol. 13, p. 260). Zondervan.
Stulac, G. M. (1993). James (Jas 4:17). IVP Academic.
Moo, D. J. (2021). The Letter of James (D. A. Carson, Ed.; Second Edition, pp. 263–264). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Nystrom, D. P. (1997). James (p. 253). Zondervan Publishing House.
Martin, R. P. (1988). James (Vol. 48, pp. 168–169). Word, Incorporated.