Do I need to Plan?
“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
To please God, we must consider two critical factors: God’s instructions and our decisions. Many of us make resolutions and goals for the coming year at the start of each new year. With this in mind, consider some passages from the book of Proverbs about future planning. As we begin the new year, we must act wisely.
We are accountable for our plans.
“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord” (Proverbs 16:1).
Each of us must make plans for our future. This is not something we can delegate to others. This is not to say that we should disregard what others say and do whatever we want. The Scriptures make it abundantly clear that we are to submit to those in positions of authority in the various roles we play in this life (cf. Ephesians 5:22; 6:1, 5; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 2:13-14). However, submitting to authority does not imply that we ignore the future and do not make our own plans. It is up to us to plan if we are going to do God’s will, develop our talents, improve our situation in life, and so on.
We must plan in accordance with God’s Will.
“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3).
We must be dedicated to serving God in everything we do. Our plans may change throughout our lives, but God’s will does not. “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the Lord’s counsel will stand” (Proverbs 19:21). “Forever…settled in heaven,” he says (Psalm 119:89). As a result, we must do everything under His authority (Colossians 3:17). Making plans based solely on good intentions will not be enough (cf. Matthew 7:21-23).
We Should Seek Counsel from Others
“Prepare plans by consultation, and make war by wise guidance” (Proverbs 20:18).
It is beneficial to seek advice and counsel from others because none of us has all of the answers. As a result, we will benefit from utilizing the wisdom of others. “Just as iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17). However, we must ensure that we have the right counselors. “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm,” the wise man warned (Proverbs 13:20). We must seek the counsel of those who are walking in wisdom and following the will of the Lord as we make future plans.
Planning Evil Turns God and Man Against Us
“Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord, but pleasant words are pure” (Proverbs 15:26).
“One who plans to do evil, men will call a schemer” (Proverbs 24:8).
“A heart that devises wicked plans” is one of the things the Lord despises (Proverbs 6:16, 18). God knows our hearts (Hebrews 4:13), so nothing is hidden from Him. Having evil intentions and making plans based on them will cause the Lord to turn against us.
While our standing with God must be our primary concern, evil plans have an impact on how others perceive us. We will gain a bad reputation as others label us as “schemers” or “mischievous people” (KJV). When we have a bad reputation, it is difficult to influence others for good. “An offended brother is more difficult to win than a strong city, and contentions are like citadel bars” (Proverbs 18:19). When Saul converted to Christ, the disciples in Jerusalem refused to accept him because of his reputation as a church enemy (Acts 9:26). To keep our reputation, we must plan for good rather than evil.
Planning on your own is insufficient.
“A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out” (Proverbs 20:5).
Plans are meaningless unless we act to put them into action. If we have “understanding,” we will recognize it rather than simply discussing our plans. “There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23). This is similar to James’ connection between faith and works (James 2:14-18) – true faith must necessarily lead to doing what is right. Similarly, plans made with godly wisdom must inevitably lead us to do what we have planned to do.
We Must Work Hard to Carry Out Our Plans
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).
Again, planning is not enough; we must also act. However, this does not imply that acting half-heartedly will suffice. We must be cautious. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” wrote the wise man (Ecclesiastes 9:10). “He who works with a negligent hand is poor, but the diligent hand makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4). We cannot take shortcuts in order to achieve our goals faster if we carry out our plans with diligence. Remember what the wise man said in the preceding verse: “Whoever is hasty comes to poverty.” We must do things correctly.
Conclusion
Let us plan for the future with wisdom so that we can please the Lord in everything we do.
Questions
- Does God have a plan, or is everything just happening by chance?
- If God has a plan, why should I even try to plan? Shouldn’t I just trust God to lead me?
- Does God have a specific plan for my life? Can I mess it up?
- Why is it important to plan ahead?
- How do I go about planning ahead?
- What are some plans I should be making?
You can leave your answers in the comment Section.
Happy New Year from all of us at RCCG Victory Temple Fayetteville.
God bless you!