Life is short and unpredictable. As James 4:14 reminds us, “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.” We do not know if we will be here tomorrow or what challenges we may face. With life’s uncertainty, how then should we live?
Trust in God’s Sovereignty
We can find comfort and direction in remembering that God is sovereign over our lives. Not only does God know what tomorrow holds, but He holds tomorrow in His hands (Psalm 139:16). Though our lives are short and uncertain, God’s eternal plan and purposes for our lives remain steadfast. As we walk with Him day by day, He will guide our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). We can trust that He knows the way we should take and will supply the strength we need for each day.
Number Our Days
The unknown future should motivate us to steward our time wisely in the present. As Psalm 90:12 (ESV) advises, “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Knowing that our days are numbered by God (Psalm 139:16), we should make the most of each moment He gives us. We can do this by living purposefully, setting God-honoring priorities and investing in things of eternal value.
Be Ready at Any Time
Not only is life short, but we do not know when it will end. James 4:14 compares our lives to a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Therefore, we should live in constant readiness for our lives on earth to end and to stand before God. As Jesus taught in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13), we are called to be ready and waiting for His return at any time. This involves walking closely with God each day and keeping our hearts focused on our eternal home.
Pursue Godly Wisdom
Since we do not know what tomorrow holds, we need wisdom from above to walk uprightly day to day. As James instructs earlier in his letter, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). God promises to provide the wisdom we need as we ask in faith. The wisdom He gives enables us to navigate life’s uncertainties in a way that honors Him.
Redeem the Time
We should make the most of our fleeting days on earth by redeeming the time the Lord gives us. As Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:15-16, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” This involves using our time well by walking in godly wisdom and intentionally pursuing good works God prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).
Set Godly Priorities
Since we only have limited time on earth, we need to prayerfully consider and set proper priorities in how we use it. We can ask God to help us align our priorities with His will. Key priorities would include pursuing an intimate relationship with God, investing in family and Christian community, living out our calling and using our gifts to serve God, and being a witness for Christ through word and deed. As Jesus emphasized in Matthew 6:33, seeking God’s kingdom should be our top priority.
Walk in Obedience to God
Not knowing what tomorrow holds should spur us on to faithfully obey God today. We want to be ready whenever He calls us home. As Jesus said, “You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:44). To be spiritually ready, we need to walk closely with God and follow His Word each day. We can make needed changes now and commit areas of disobedience to Him.
Practice Living Each Day as Your Last
To live wisely in light of life’s brevity and uncertainty, it can be helpful to envision each day as potentially our last on earth. How would we live today if we knew Jesus was returning? This mindset helps us cherish each day as the gift it is. It reminds us to avoid wasting time on meaningless pursuits or procrastinating good we can do. Instead, we seek to honor Christ in our thoughts, words and actions.
Invest in Eternal Things
Since we cannot take material possessions or achievements with us when we die, we should invest ourselves in things of eternal value. As Jesus exhorted, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…” (Matthew 6:19-20). We can store up eternal treasure by growing in Christlikeness, serving God’s purposes, and investing in people’s lives.
Live Without Regrets
The uncertainty of life and brevity of time on earth should free us to live courageously, without holding back or fearing failure. We don’t want to come to the end of life looking back with regret over opportunities missed, gifts unutilized, or words left unspoken. As Paul says in Ephesians 5:16 (NLT), we should make “the most of every opportunity” in life. Each day is a gift from God to live fully, without regrets.
Value Relationships
Knowing this life is short, we should highly value our relationships and make time to invest deeply in them. Our loved ones are eternal treasures we can enjoy forever. We can nurture close Christian fellowship and look for opportunities to share Christ’s love with people we encounter each day. We want to avoid neglecting key relationships due to busyness, selfishness or apathy. There are no guarantees we will have more time on earth to develop meaningful bonds.
Be Ready to Meet Jesus
Above all, we live wisely when we stay ready to meet Jesus at any moment. As Paul said, “My desire is to depart and be with Christ” (Philippians 1:23). No matter when He calls us home, we want to be found faithful. This involves maintaining a vibrant relationship with Him through prayer, studying His Word, fellowship with other believers, and partaking in the Lord’s Supper which proclaims His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Live Purposefully Each Day
Rather than drifting through life, we can live purposefully in light of its brevity by prayerfully setting goals and priorities each day that align with God’s purposes for our lives. We can start each morning by committing the day to God and asking for His guidance. We should also reflect at day’s end on how we spent our time and look for areas needing realignment. As Psalm 90:12 (NLT) says, “Teach us to make the most of our time.”
Maintain an Eternal Perspective
Keeping eternity in view as we live day to day enables us to properly prioritize our time, energy, and resources. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, inwardly we are being renewed day by day for an eternal glory that far outweighs our temporary afflictions. When we consider our lives in light of eternity, we are motivated to live for purposes that transcend this fleeting life on earth.
Walk in God’s Presence
We can live each uncertain day wisely and without fear by staying focused on God’s presence with us. The Lord assures us, “…I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). When we walk closely with God, talk with Him continually through prayer, and follow the guidance of His Spirit, He will lead us step by step into His purposes for each day. Abiding in Christ enables us to bear good fruit in every season of life (John 15:1-5).
Be Faithful with What We Are Given
Rather than worrying about unknown future events, we can choose to be faithful servants with what God has already entrusted to us. Jesus said, “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes” (Matthew 24:45-46). When we are faithful to use our time, talents, and treasures for God’s glory each day, He promises to supply the strength and wisdom we need for whatever lies ahead.
Love God and Others
When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). If we live each day loving God above all and showing His selfless love to those around us, we can rest knowing we have lived wisely no matter the length of our days on earth. Loving others is an investment in God’s eternal kingdom.
Live Without Fear
Rather than causing us to stumble in fear, the unknown future can become a catalyst for trusting God more fully one day at a time. As we walk in His love, we can “have no fear of what tomorrow brings” (3 John 1:14 NLT). God encourages us to “fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). We have no need to fear with Christ beside us.
Walk in Holiness
Keeping eternity in view, we can live each fleeting day on earth seeking to please God and become more like Christ. As Hebrews 12:14 instructs, “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” God desires us to pursue moral purity and Christlike character. By keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2), our thoughts and actions can be transformed by His Holy Spirit working within us.
Rejoice Always
Despite life’s brevity and uncertainty, we can live with constant inner joy as we put our trust in God each day. Paul urged believers: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). This abiding joy is not dependent on our changing circumstances, but on Christ’s presence within us. As we rejoice in Him, He fills us with His inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8).
Be Generous
Since we cannot take material possessions with us when we die, we can live generously, freely sharing what God has given us to bless others. As Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 6:18-19, we are to be rich in good works, generous, ready to share, thus storing up treasure for the age to come. When we give freely out of our limited resources in this life, we reap eternal rewards.
Make Each Day Count
We only have so many days on earth, so we want to maximize the impact of each one. As Paul told the Galatian church, “As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). We can prayerfully plan how to spend our time each day, seeking to use it wisely for God’s purposes and to serve others in Christ’s name. Every day is an opportunity to bear eternal fruit.
Hold Loosely to the Temporal
Since we live in a fallen, imperfect world that is passing away, it helps to hold the temporal things of this life with an open hand. We can appreciate and steward well the blessings God grants, but not cling to them or put our hope in them. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:30-31, we should approach all aspects of life in this world as though not engrossed in them, because the present form of the world is passing away. Our focus is on the eternal.