James 4:15 Meaning and Explanation
“For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Plans should be made with the acknowledgment, if the Lord wills.
What Does James 4:15 Mean?
James gives the better way to speak and think. You ought to say, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. Plans are not forbidden; they are simply to be held under God's sovereign will, with humble acknowledgment that He governs all.
This is not a mere formula to recite but a disposition of the heart that bows every intention to God. To say if the Lord wills is to confess that life and breath and tomorrow are His to grant. The confident planner of verse thirteen is not told to stop planning but to plan in dependence. The reader learns to make his way through life with open hands, submitting each purpose to the Lord, trusting that what God wills is always good.
Frequently Asked Questions About James 4:15
What does James 4:15 mean?
Plans should be made with the acknowledgment, if the Lord wills.