Whereas you don’t know what your life will be like tomorrow. For what is your life? For you are a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. James 4:14 WEB
Life is short. As James writes of each of us, “you are a vapor.” It is important to place value on the time God gives us to live. As we pass from day to day, we do well to understand our limited time on earth and live with a sense of purpose. Beyond that, we make fateful decisions regarding how to spend our time. Will we live our lives seeking pleasure? Or will we spend our time serving the Lord?
In chapter four of his book, James counsels against living in the wisdom of the world. He famously warns his readers in James 4:4, “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. WEB”
The activities we spend our time pursuing dictate our relationship with God. Pursuing wealth before God, we serve the wrong master. When we live in sin rather than in obedience to the word of God, we make ourselves an enemy of God. When James says, “you are a vapor,” he brings to focus the importance of making the most of each day. He intends to guide the reader into greater obedience to God.
Teach Us to Number Our Days
Moses expresses the importance of using each day to serve the Lord, writing in Psalm 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. KJV” We may think that we have plenty of time to change our ways or accomplish our purpose, but God’s word directs us to consider the importance of serving his purpose now.
We move toward eternity at a speed that is deceptively slow in our perception. James reminds us with his words, “you are a vapor” that the judgment of our sin, the fragility of life, and our dependence on God make the decision of how we spend our time critical in determining the outcomes we receive here on earth and in eternity.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the truth of your holy word. Help me to spend my time wisely and in your service. Give me wisdom and strength to do your will. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: I Will Praise You
