“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live , and do this, or that.”
My Notes
What Does James 4:15 Mean?
"For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." James prescribes the CORRECT posture toward future plans: instead of boasting about tomorrow (verse 13 — 'today or tomorrow we will go into such a city'), say IF THE LORD WILLS. The conditional acknowledges divine SOVEREIGNTY over human plans. The 'if' is the acknowledgment. The 'Lord wills' is the authority. The 'we shall live' is the humility — even LIVING is conditional on God's will, not guaranteed by human assumption.
The phrase "if the Lord will" (ean ho Kyrios thelēsē — if the Lord should will/desire) makes EVERY PLAN conditional on GOD'S WILL: the 'if' introduces CONTINGENCY. The plan isn't cancelled. The plan is CONDITIONED — submitted to the Lord's decision. The 'Lord wills' replaces 'I will' as the determining factor. The plan exists. The Lord's will determines whether the plan executes.
The "we shall live, and do this, or that" (kai zēsomen kai poiēsomen touto ē ekeino — both we shall live and we shall do this or that) includes LIVING ITSELF in the conditional: not just 'if the Lord wills, we'll do business in that city.' IF THE LORD WILLS, WE WILL LIVE. Even BEING ALIVE tomorrow is conditional on divine will. The most basic assumption — that you'll be alive — is placed under the Lord's sovereignty. Living is conditional. Planning is conditional. EVERYTHING is conditional on the Lord's will.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Do your plans carry 'if the Lord wills' — or do they assume tomorrow is guaranteed?
- 2.What does even LIVING being conditional teach about the scope of divine sovereignty?
- 3.How does 'if the Lord will' replace human presumption without eliminating human planning?
- 4.What plan are you making that needs the two-word addition: 'if the Lord wills'?
Devotional
IF the Lord wills — we'll live. We'll do this or that. Even LIVING is conditional. Even BEING ALIVE TOMORROW is submitted to the Lord's sovereignty. The plan isn't cancelled. The plan is CONDITIONED — placed under the authority of the One who determines whether tomorrow arrives at all.
The 'if the Lord will' is the TWO-WORD replacement for human arrogance: instead of 'I WILL go to this city and make money' (verse 13), say 'IF THE LORD WILLS.' The two words introduce CONTINGENCY into every plan. The 'if' acknowledges: I don't control the outcome. The 'Lord wills' identifies: GOD controls the outcome. The planning continues. The presumption stops.
The 'we shall live' includes EXISTENCE in the conditional: James doesn't just condition the PLAN. He conditions LIFE ITSELF. Even being alive tomorrow is contingent on the Lord's will. The most basic assumption — 'I will wake up tomorrow' — is placed under divine sovereignty. The conditioning is TOTAL. Not just what you DO is conditional. Whether you EXIST to do it is conditional.
The 'do this, or that' keeps the planning GENERAL and OPEN: James doesn't prescribe WHAT to plan. He prescribes HOW to plan — with the 'if the Lord wills' attached. The plans can be anything ('this or that'). The posture must be the same: conditional, submitted, dependent on the Lord's will. The content of the plan is your choice. The conditioning of the plan is your obligation.
Do your plans carry the 'if the Lord wills' — or do they assume tomorrow is guaranteed?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
For that ye ought to say,.... Instead of saying we will go to such and such a place, and do this, and that, and the…
For that ye ought to say - Instead of what you do say, “we will go into such a city,” you ought rather to recognise your…
For that ye ought to say - Αντι τοι λεγειν ὑμας· Instead of saying, or instead of which ye should say,
If the Lord…
In this part of the chapter,
I. We are cautioned against the sin of evil-speaking: Speak not evil one of another,…
For that ye ought to say Literally, Instead of saying, but the English may be admitted as a fair paraphrase.
If the Lord…
Cross References
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