Making Plans for Tomorrow
Verse of the Day
Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)
Devotional
Have you ever thought about or talked about some things you would like to do in the future? Maybe you’d like to travel or move to a bigger and better house. Perhaps you’d like to change careers. Maybe your dreams and goals have been so grandiose, all they amount to are far-off “maybes” or are products of wishful thinking. I must confess I have done this many many times. It wasn’t until recently that the Lord showed me that these wishful desires are actually evil.
Evil? This may seem like a strong word because it seems innocent and harmless to want things, or want things out of reach, but according to scripture, it is evil to plan for a future we are not yet given. I looked up the word “tomorrow” in my Bible word search program. It appeared one time in the King James version. I looked up the word “today” and it appeared 63 times. Clearly, the Lord wants us to live in the present. This is not to say that He doesn’t want us to look forward to a bright and cheerful future, for his Word promises us good things for the rest of our lives (see Psalm 23:6). But, it is to say that to talk about tomorrow and wish things were different is in itself, unwise.
We need to learn to be content to live just this one day at a time. Discontentment is a bottomless pit. Like an addiction, it must continuously be appeased. The children of Israel didn’t want to continue the journey in the wilderness — they lost sight of the goal, which was the Promised Land. They were discontent and God supplied everything they asked, yet still they wanted more and better. Read Psalm 106 for a brief history of this perilous journey.
The opening verse (Prov. 27:1) suggests that to plan for our tomorrows is boastful, taking for granted a future that is not guaranteed. Anything can happen and we must trust God because He is the only one who holds our future. If we live just this one day that the Lord has given us, we can learn to enjoy every moment as is, without borrowing time (and trouble) before it has arrived.
There is also an aspect of relationship to consider. I interpret James 4:13-16 (see below) to mean that if we go ahead and make plans, it is likely we have not even given a single thought to what the Lord’s will is. We haven’t bothered to consult the Lord, but assume that our own plans will prevail regardless of what the Lord may want for us instead. How can He give us His best if we insist on doing things in our own way in our own time? I encourage you today — enjoy the moment for God is in it and He wants to be involved in all the details of your life because He cares for you. He’ll reveal His plans for you as you learn to wait on Him.
Prayer
Pray for God to help you discern His will and learn to live in the present; to trust in Him to reveal the future.
Reflection
What are your present plans? Have you consulted God? If not, make a list of what you plan to do and discuss it all in detail with the Lord.
Other Relevant Verses
- James 4:13-16
- Psalms 23:6
- Psalms 106:1-48
(14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
(15) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
(16) But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
(2) Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
(3) Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
(4) Remember me, O LORD, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation;
(5) That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.
(6) We have sinned with our fathers, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly.
(7) Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea.
(8) Nevertheless he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make his mighty power to be known.
(9) He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
(10) And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.
(11) And the waters covered their enemies: there was not one of them left.
(12) Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
(13) They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
(14) But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
(15) And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.
(16) They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
(17) The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
(18) And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
(19) They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
(20) Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
(21) They forgat God their saviour, which had done great things in Egypt;
(22) Wondrous works in the land of Ham, and terrible things by the Red sea.
(23) Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
(24) Yea, they despised the pleasant land, they believed not his word:
(25) But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD.
(26) Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:
(27) To overthrow their seed also among the nations, and to scatter them in the lands.
(28) They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
(29) Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them.
(30) Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.
(31) And that was counted unto him for righteousness unto all generations for evermore.
(32) They angered him also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes:
(33) Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
(34) They did not destroy the nations, concerning whom the LORD commanded them:
(35) But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
(36) And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them.
(37) Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils,
(38) And shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan: and the land was polluted with blood.
(39) Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions.
(40) Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
(41) And he gave them into the hand of the heathen; and they that hated them ruled over them.
(42) Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand.
(43) Many times did he deliver them; but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.
(44) Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:
(45) And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
(46) He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
(47) Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.
(48) Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.