A friend (not a Christian) told me that his grandmother "was religious" -  because whenever she spoke to him as a child she prefaced it "if I'm alive next week I'll..." She created an image of doom and gloom in him. At first sight this, however, is what we are told to say!

Need context to have proper understanding: Written by Jew - James brother of Jesus - about AD50 to dispersed tribes of Israel.

Powerful words! Classic Jewish graphic language.

So is all planning wrong? Should we ever make plans for the future? Should we repeatedly say 'if the Lord wills...' in a gloomy, doomy way?

The world seems to have two attitudes: 
Live for today (for tomorrow you die) - live now/pay later
'Driven-ness' / selfish ambition is greatly admired (= use people/love things instead of use things/love people)

So should we adopt the world's approach?

Some people in the Bible had good reason to boast - yet didn't: 
- Jesus = God in human form - chose to be humble - fully human - more human than we manage to be! (Philippians 2: 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father)

- Paul (2 Corinth 12: 1 This boasting is all so foolish, but let me go on. Let me tell about the visions and revelations I received from the Lord. 2 I was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago. 3 Whether my body was there or just my spirit, I don't know; only God knows. 4 But I do know that I was caught up into paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be told. 5 That experience is something worth boasting about, but I am not going to do it. I am going to boast only about my weaknesses. 6 I have plenty to boast about and would be no fool in doing it, because I would be telling the truth. But I won't do it. I don't want anyone to think more highly of me than what they can actually see in my life and my message, 7 even though I have received wonderful revelations from God.)

Despite their situations neither Jesus or Paul boasted about their own greatness

What about us? Some Christians say we "don't need life insurance / pensions", "all ambition is evil", "wrong to make plans for the future"

Do we dare be presumptuous about God's plan?

It's our heart - motivation - that counts:
Why are we making the plan? (Who will benefit? Who is Lord?)
Are we open to guidance / willing to change plans?
How will we respond if God wants something different?
Are we delighted by God's grace? - trust Him to have the best plan for us?

Ok - make plans - but 'hold them loosely'
Seek GOD'S plans - be ambitious for His kingdom plan for you
TRUST HIM

Ok - boast - but about what God has done & will do - for us and through us (Jer 9:23)
Have a humble, teachable spirit - open to God's will & purpose

If we go our own way - plan our own life without allowing God in, His kingdom will not be extended. Ultimately the failure of Christians to allow God's plan to be worked out in their lives means that people starve, wars occur, people die lost. That is the price of our selfish ambition, our stubbornness - our selfish planning.

So do we want to see God's kingdom come? Do we want to see the world change? Do we want to see people come to know Christ as their Saviour? Do we want to see God working out His purposes in our own situations? Do we really? Then let Him in - to EVERY part of our lives. Let Him guide our thinking, planning. Let His ambitions for this world become our ambitions. Let His plans be ours. 

Let the kingdom of God come - through us, His children.