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”— 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. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

James 4:13-16

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”— 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. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. James 4:13-16

I continue a pause of my study of Ecclesiastes to study James 4:13-4:17.  This morning, I lean on DesiringGod.com's lab for 4:13-16 (Part 2) where John Piper takes a second pass at breaking down this text in detail.  Part 1 from yesterday focused on how God is sovereign over all, and the key question examined in Part 2 is whether God is sovereign over evil.  

First, Piper shares that this text in James is not the only discussion of God's will.  He then shares that there are two ways in which God's will is expressed in scripture:

1. Will of decree; God decrees something and then it comes to pass; see also Matthew 26:39, Acts 4:27-28, 1 Peter 3:17-18, Ephesians 1:11, Matthew 10:29, Proverbs 16:1, 21:1, Daniel 4:35, Job 42:1-2, Isaiah 53:10.  
   
2. Will of command; God commands something from us (believers); see also Matthew 7:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, 5:18, 1 John 2:17.  
   

 Below is a snapshot definition from the lab video.

 

Connecting how God can predestine his Son to be crucified (will of decree) with how God commands all of humanity to do something or not do something (will of command), by sharing the example command that shall not murder, Piper then describes how God is sovereign over evil without Himself ever sinning...."coordinating, managing, governing" but not ever sinning.  Piper then shares that people are responsible and accountable, AND that God is just.  As he concludes the lab, Piper - in response to a rhetorical question someone might have whether God willed abuse of a child - shares that God commands love and hates sin (abuse).  He could have stopped abuse but He willed not for the abuse to stop (and there are examples of this both in our earthly lives and in scripture). God has omnipotent power and "can override all pain and sorrow and turn it for good."  We should focus on how God never stops loving and caring for us and most importantly He shows amazing grace and saves us. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You hold my life in Your hands and You are so full of grace and mercy, saving me from condemnation.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation and for the incredible mercies and blessings You pour out for me every single day.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.