Chapter 4, Verse 13 “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’”
James appears to be addressing the well to do, the up-and-coming business class and not necessarily the rich. He will address them in the next chapter. It doesn’t appear that he is condemning their plans or actions as much as their attitude about their plans and deeds. His use of ‘come now’ adds an abruptness to this statement.
The scriptures do not condemn making a profit nor do they warn against making plans to do so. What’s missing from this planning session is God as we will see in the following verses. This admonition seems to be pointing at the profit making without regard to the plans and desires of God. God grants wealth so that it can be shared rather than horded. The story of the rich farmer and his barns well illustrates that point.
Task for Today: What are your plans for getting ahead financially? Are they legitimate? Most importantly, do you plan around God? What is the goal of your planning? Is it to build bigger barns or is it to benefit others? Make plans today but include God and God’s desire for others not able to make the profit.
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