“The reality is you have no idea where your life will take you tomorrow. You are like a mist that appears one moment and then vanishes another. It would be best to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will and we live long enough, we hope to do this project or pursue that dream.’ But your current speech indicates an arrogance that does not acknowledge the One who controls the universe, and this kind of big talking is the epitome of evil. So if you know the right way to live and ignore it, it is sin—plain and simple.” (James 4:14-17 VOICE)
I used to volunteer at a local food pantry with a Lebanese Christian woman. We talked about our faith quite often while we stocked the shelves. She had a habit of saying “inshallah” after every intention. Since I had always assumed this was some sort of Islamic phrase, I was surprised to hear her use it so frequently. I finally asked her about it. She explained that it stood for ‘God willing’ and that Arabs of all religious backgrounds used the phrase to remind them to include God into their hopes and plans.
None of us has any idea where our life is headed. We are as insubstantial as the morning fog that dissipates in the heat of day. No matter how talented we are, no matter what we accomplish, our impact is transitory. Any plan or pursuit that does not factor God into the equation is futile and arrogant. Thus, it is prudent to preface every project, every hope, every venture with God’s will in mind. Acknowledge the One who controls the universe in everything you do. This is the right way to live.
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