“Tomorrow! Tomorrow!”
March 8, 2023
People are fascinated with wanting to know and predict the future. Even though research reports much about “future-telling failure”, many still read their daily horoscope, or even go to fortune tellers. Something about counting proverbial chickens before they hatch is captivating.
In addition to fascination with the future, people enjoy boasting and bragging about all sorts of things. Some brag about where they have been, what they can do, who they know, what wonderful children and grandchildren they have, and what they will do in the future.
However, Solomon warns against these fascinations and boastings, and suggests that to make plans and boast about something that has not yet happened is foolish. To be overly confident in our plans for the future is not wise, because we never know what may interrupt and change them.
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Proverbs 27:1
Solomon is saying we do not know what tomorrow holds, but this does not mean that we do not prepare for tomorrow. We make our plans for tomorrow, but we should not boast about it.
James, Jesus’ brother, also warned about boasting in our tomorrows. He cautioned the believers in this way –
“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’— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.” – James 4:13-17
James was talking to merchants about their plans to sell their products and make money. However, James reminded them about the uncertainty of tomorrow and the brevity of their lives. Leaving the Lord out of future plans is to show pride and an exaggerated ego about self, abilities, and potential success. Instead of this arrogance, it should be said, “If the Lord will, we will live and do this or that.”
However, if we ever feel the need to boast, God has given us permission to boast in one kind of way and that is in Him.
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 2 Corinthians 10:17
“But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” – Galatians 6:4