Please read this passage before reading this homily.
James was like the stern prophets of old. He takes the rich to task. He seemed to be talking o the millionaires and the rich nations of the world who care only their own welfare and jockeying for position on the world stage.
In reality, however, his words are for us who plan our future plans without having taken God’s plans into account. We have the name f praying and doing good, In reality, however, how often do we neglect the Lord and his will?
We plan excursions, events and happenings for the present and sometimes for a more distant future. Where do we put God in this? Many times our focus I on us rather than on what God is asking of us at the moment.
Our best way of reading and listening to Scripture is to assume that the message is for us, not for some distant third person or for others in society. God’s word in Scripture is personal to us even when proclaimed to large crowds of people; it is never spoken or given only for someone else.