- Aug 11, 2023
- 11,388
- 7,698
- 25
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
Hello folks. Today's study is highly relevant in the modern era where news and social media discuss events that have not even happened yet, speculating on outcomes of wars, and on political events on both sides of the aisle.
Date | June 14, 2024 | Speculation Leads Nowhere |
Verse | James 4:13-15 (NKJV): "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." Proverbs 27:1 (NKJV): "Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth." |
Explanation | These two passages from the Bible, James 4:13-15 and Proverbs 27:1, both emphasize the importance of humility and trust in God when it comes to making plans for the future or making predictions about events that have not yet occurred. In James 4:13-15, the author is addressing those who make plans based on their own assumptions about the future, without considering the will of God. The passage uses the analogy of a vapor to describe the brevity and transience of human life (typically 80 years in modern times) compared to the infinite age of God, and encourages believers to recognize that their plans must be submitted to God's will. Similarly, Proverbs 27:1 warns against exaggerating about the future, as we cannot know what the day may bring forth. This verse emphasizes the importance of humility and recognizing the uncertainty of the future. These passages relate to speculation and making predictions or bets on the outcome of a scenario in that they remind us of the importance of trusting in God's will and recognizing the limitations of human knowledge and ability to predict what is to come. As Christians, we are called to live in obedience to God's commands and to trust in His providence, rather than relying on our own plans or assumptions about the future. |
Societal Relevance | To heed these passages and avoid speculation in the modern world, we can practice the following:
Sometimes, it is easy for me to get wrapped up in thoughts about the future, especially with the 24/7 news we have in the 2020s. However, there are ways for me to avoid speculation. For instance, a lot of people made speculations about war escalations, so, I just try to avoid news about war (such as the Russia-Ukraine War, or the Israel-Hamas War of 2023) and sometimes politics as well. News media itself can be guilty of speculation, as a 2005 study by the University of Central Florida has analyzed two Florida newspapers, and have shown that both have used speculative headlines for some articles. Cognitive biases may arise based upon past or present information, which may skew one’s predictions. In summary, it is best not to try and pick apart tomorrow, as no one but God knows the future. We can make good inferences about the future, given long-term trends (ex. predicting global warming trends up through the end of the 21st century, or the number of transistors on microchip in next year’s computer), but using short-term data or subjective information is insufficient to make an educated prediction on an event (ex. predicting the outcome if a trial verdict is going to be appealed, or if WW3 would happen before 2040). |
