In God's Service in All We Do

In today’s first reading, James 4: 13-17, St. James addresses those of us who say, “‘Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit’—you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears. Instead you should say, ‘If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that.’”  Wow!  St. James might as well have asked us “Who do you think you are? You have no idea whether you will be here tomorrow. And where is God in this plan of yours?”

As I reflected upon James’  message, the thought occurred to me of the greatness of our God. God is in charge. And, yes, God does want us to be planning for tomorrow and the next day, the next month, the next  year, and so on. The key is that we acknowledge “If it is God’s will I will do such and such tomorrow or the next day or the next month or year.” We want our wills to be in harmony with the will of God. We want to be doing what the Spirit leads us to do. Imagine—no, realize—that God is in charge. It is God who directs us and with His direction comes the power to do what is right and good, to make a difference, to bear fruit that will last forever. It is when we allow ourselves to be agents in the hand of Almighty God and when our wills are  in harmony with the will of God that great things happen, that people of faith encounter God in us and are drawn to God. That is why God put us here on earth! No other reason!