“Look here, you who say, “today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.””
James 4:13–15, NLT
This time of year, there is a tendency to look forward to the new year. People start thinking about New Year’s resolutions and what they want to accomplish in the new year. I am guilty of that as well. Even in preparing this column today, my first title was “Looking forward to 2023.”
However, as I began to write, I went to my Bible to look up a scripture, only to find my Bible on the above text of scripture that stopped me in my tracks.
We are all tempted to focus on tomorrow. We are told and trained to plan and prepare. Planning and preparing are vital tools that we all need to have and use, but we must remember that we only have today because tomorrow is not a guarantee.
Somebody once thought it would be a wonderful thing if every day of our lives, each of us had $1,440 in the bank that we had to spend before the end of the day—none of it could be carried over to the following day.
Each of us does have 1,440 minutes every day. Could they be spent in a better way? [1]
What are the things that you are putting off today to do tomorrow?
Most of the time, the things you put off today, you will not do tomorrow!
I encourage you to live today to its fullest in whatever sense that means to you. Tell your loved ones you love them. Spend time talking to a loved one. Send the text that you intended to send. Make the phone call you intended to make. Talk to the neighbor who you always dodge. Take a step towards that dream that you have in your heart.
Do what you have been putting off today because today is all you have because tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Take time to work—it is the price of success.
Take time to think—it is the source of power.
Take time to play—it is the secret of youth.
Take time to read—it is the foundation of knowledge.
Take time to worship—it is the highway of reverence.
Take time to help and enjoy friends—it is the source of happiness.
Take time to love—it is the one sacrament of life.
Take time to dream—it hitches the soul to the stars.
Take time to laugh—it is the music of the soul.
Take time to pray—it helps bring Christ near.
Anonymous [2]
Dr. Draper Rogers is a pastor at Gardendale First Baptist Church and a contributor to North Jefferson Magazine.
[1] Zuck, Roy B. 1997. The Speaker’s Quote Book: Over 4,500 Illustrations and Quotations for All Occasions. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.
[2] Zuck, Roy B. 1997. The Speaker’s Quote Book: Over 4,500 Illustrations and Quotations for All Occasions. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.
