James 4

Points that stuck out to me in the reading today... 

4:14The problem is what the merchant did not consider: his complete dependence on God (cf.Luke 12:18-20; John 15:5).
“To what extent is your life directed by the knowledge that Christ is coming back? Much of our thinking and behavior is shaped by what we can see of present circumstances or past events. Yet Scripture speaks forcefully of Christ’s return as a fact that should be directing how we live now. Christians are to be motivated by the certainty of this future event.”[193]

This reminds me of a theme this summer... living in the reality of the Kingdom. 

4:15The merchant should have made his planning in conscious dependence on God recognizing His sovereign control over all of life (cf. Acts 18:21; 1 Cor. 4:19; 16:7; Phil. 2:19, 24). The Latin phrase, deo volente (“God willing,” abbreviated D.V.) remains in use even today among some Christians.
“A study of the use of this conditional clause [“If the Lord wills . . .”] in the NT makes it clear that we are not to repeat it mechanically in connection with every statement of future plans. Paul, for example, employs it in Acts 18:21 and 1 Corinthians 4:19, but he does not use it in Acts 19:21; Romans 15:28; or 1 Corinthians 16:5, 8. Yet it is obvious that whether Paul explicitly stated it or not, he always conditioned his plans on the will of God.”[194]

It's not about saying the words - it's about acknowledging Him foremost and knowing (acting out of the certainty) that God is the One who will be sustaining me and making my future and I am to submit Him in all ways for I know that is what's best (and commanded) - if I choose not to, I am willingly walking in sin. 

The person James just pictured was guilty of a sin of omission. He failed to acknowledge the place God occupies in life (cf. John 9:41). In concluding this discussion of conflicts, James reminded his readers to put into practice what they knew. They should avoid presumption and self-confidence, and they should submit themselves humbly to God. Failure to do this is sin.
“They cannot take refuge in the plea that they have done nothing positively wrong; as Scripture makes abundantly clear, sins of omission are as real and serious as sins of commission.”[196]