Ministry of Grace Church

who do not know a thing of tomorrow. What is your life? For it is a vapor that is appearing for a little while and then is disappearing.

Truth to Learn

Life is short. Eternity is long. Plans made for eternity are far better than plans made for this earthly life.

Behind the Words

The word translated “who” is hoitines, which is a relative pronoun that is tied back to “you who say” in the previous verse. It serves to make the following more emphatically directed to those who were talked about in the previous verse.

We have previously looked at the word here translated as “know.” It is a word which literally means “to stand over,” that is, “to put your mind upon” or “to comprehend.”

The word translated “what” is poia, which is a qualitative interrogative. That is, James is asking a rhetorical question about the nature of life. It could be translated as, “what is your life like?”

“Vapor” is translated from the word atmis, which refers to a mist, like that given off by a fountain or that which is blown off the top of a wave.

The words “appearing” and “disappearing” are both forms of the word phainō, meaning “to shine” or “to appear,” but the word for “disappearing” is preceded by a, meaning not. Both words are expressed as participles, so this could be translated, “briefly appearing then disappearing.”

Meaning Explained

We are so adept at forming plans as if we knew what the future holds, and yet we have no way of knowing what will happen tomorrow let alone during the next year. In the whole scheme of things, our life here on this earth is very short and will have no lasting impact at all on the rest of humanity except as we serve God in His eternal plan. We will be here for only a short while, then like a mist we will vanish from this earth.

We should be planning for the future, just not our earthly future. Here’s what Christ told his followers:

Do not treasure up for yourselves treasures on earth … but treasure up for yourselves treasures in heaven … For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, “What might we eat?” or “What might we drink?” or “What might we wear?” … For your heavenly Father knows that you have need for all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about its own things … (Matthew 6:31-33a)

Application

Do you want your life to really mean something? Turn over control to God and let Him make something of it; follow His plan for your life. Some day we will all stand before God at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Will we make it to heaven with the smell of smoke on us, as all of our earthly endeavors burn up, or will we hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”? My goal is the latter. How about you?