Among Christians, we sometimes say, “LORD willing, I will do this and that.”

The unexpected events of 2020 have taught us why it is wise to qualify all of our plans with the proviso “LORD willing”.

This wisdom prompted James (who most likely was the brother of Jesus) to write to early believers:

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the [LORD’s] will, we will live and do this and that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.” (James 4:13-16).

Paul offered similar wisdom to the Church in Corinth where many people liked to boast about how great they were. In his letters to that church, Paul told them twice (by paraphrasing the Prophet Jeremiah): “Let the one who boasts boast in the [LORD]” (1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17).

The full passage from the Prophet Jeremiah reads (Jeremiah 9:23-24):

“This is what the LORD says:

‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom

   or the strong boast of their strength

   or the rich boast of their riches,

but let the one who boasts boast about this:

   that they have the understanding to know me,

that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,

   justice and righteousness on earth,

   for in these I delight,’

     declares the LORD.”

Jesus offered similar wisdom in his Sermon on the Mount:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19).

If Jesus were preaching in 2020, he’d add “and do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where pandemics destroy your job, your business, your loved ones, your health, and your very life.”

Therefore, the wisdom of Jesus teaches us today:

“[S]tore up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal [, and where pandemics do not destroy your job, your business, your loved ones, your health, and your very life]. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:20-21).

What is the kind of treasure in heaven that we can wisely boast about? What is the kind of treasure in heaven that won’t disappear like a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes?

The treasure of “hav[ing] the understanding to know . . . the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth”. (Jeremiah 9:24).

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To learn more about the wisdom of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount, please read my blogs “Building Houses on Rock: Mission Impossible?, “Building Houses on Sand: Specks and Planks”, “Building Houses on Rock: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, and “Building Houses on Rock: Mercy and Forgiveness”.