You don’t need more time; you need clarity about what matters most. It’s easy to plan life as if we control the future and God will simply bless it. James 4:13-15 warns that self-centered living often shows up quietly—by leaving God out of everyday plans.

#1 [Y]ou who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go…and make a profit.’ James 4:13 confronts a common temptation: presumption. You plan schedules, work, and budgets as if you control life. The issue is not planning, but planning without considering God’s will.

James writes—we’ll go, we’ll stay, we’ll make money—do you hear that quiet, self-confident living? Maybe you’re the guy who prays, then assumes God will bless what you’ve decided. God calls you to lead differently. He’s not optional; He’s essential to your future.

#2 [Y]ou do not know what tomorrow will bring. James battles another quiet lie many believe: that tomorrow is manageable, predictable, and yours to control. “[Y]ou do not know what tomorrow will bring” reveals your limits.

Life is a mist—it’s brief. You fill every margin with work and busyness, assuming you’ll slow down later, until a health diagnosis, job loss, or crisis reframes everything. God calls you to teach your kids this truth by how you use—and rest in—today. Tomorrow isn’t promised, but God is faithful today.

#3 If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that. James reminds us that faithful leadership is not about control, but dependence. “If the Lord wills” is not a religious phrase to add after your plans; it’s a posture that shapes how you live.

God doesn’t call you to stop planning for work, college funds, or future stuff. He calls you to plan loosely and trust Him. Dependence is active, not passive. You work hard, plan wisely, and lead while submitting to God. When you hold plans loosely, your family learns that faith shapes real life.

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G. Campbell Morgan: “He that leaves God out of his plans leaves God out of his life.”

James 4:13–15 calls us to reject self-sufficiency and lead our homes with humble dependence. The goal is not less planning, but better planning shaped by trust in God’s will.

This week, before making your next decision, pause and pray. Then, when you talk about plans—no matter how seemingly large or small, consider saying, “If the Lord wills,” as a small start to being the example to your family that’s rooted in dependence instead of control.

Question: How does God factor into your plans?

Kent Evans
Author of Don’t Bench Yourself, co-founder of Manhood Journey

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

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