The brackets millions of people filled out a few weeks ago to predict how March Madness would turn out are pretty much toast! An unusual number of upsets have made all the wisdom of prognostigators, who’s only job is to know college basketball better than anyone else, look like all their wisdom was equal to someone who flipped a coin.
My point is that in reality… NO ONE knows what will happen tomorrow. Not only that… you can do all your homework, run the numbers, have checks and balances, have the best of intentions, consult scores of people, put the best plan in place, and life can still blow up in your face. What has happened in the sports world with the 2010 NCAA basketball tournament proves James 4:13-16 and affirms Matthew 6:25…
James 4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
Matthew 6:25 I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 27 Which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
“If the Lord wills.” The only way ANYTHING happens is if God wills it. The future is in His hands as the all wise, loving, good, and powerful God. HE wills what happens according to His plan for what will glorify Him the most. God raises up and brings low… even when it comes to who wins basketball games. He makes successful and causes failure… including in the stock market. He is God. His will is done. He purposes all things after His counsel… ALL THINGS! Consider Isaiah 46:9-10…
I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose…
Make your plans… but remember… God’s will is supreme, not yours or mine! Get comfortable with it and trust God!
Thank you for your continued teaching of God’s Word. I look forward to reading your post.
What a great analogy! I have really had fun with the playoffs so far. My bracket was destroyed the first two days, but it makes it all the more great. We have several Cinderella’s going forward now. They represent the verses you gave in Matthew 6:25. I love being a child of God’s. Thank you for reminding us of His great love!