Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Proverbs 27:1

The old adage goes, “if you want to hear God laugh, make plans.”

The issue in this verse is subtle. It’s one of presuming to know the future versus preparing for the future.
It’s about making smart choices in the way we invest our time and money. For instance, it would be foolish, especially in these troubled economic times to get in way over your head with a super large mortgage if you really don’t have to, for we do not know what the next six months will bring.

And of course, this is especially true with our spiritual preparations. Many still think they can predict when Jesus will return. I’ve even heard some predict which month or year He’ll return (using the literal “we do not know the day or hour of His return” as a basis – he said nothing about month or year!).

But we can still prepare for calamities (such as natural disasters and man-made disasters) even though we don’t know the future. In fact, it would be very prudent of us to do just that.

Ira Stanphill said it best:

I don’t know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey.

I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.