When Plans Go South/Live It!

"To man belong the plans of the heart..."
The NIV Life Application Study Bible has an excellent insight on this verse (Pr. 16:1). That is that planning gives man an opportunity to act God's way.

Consider that for a moment. If God gives man the ability to make plans, but He reserves the right to determine outcomes, wouldn't it make sense that your plans should conform to God's way if you want them to succeed?

It's less about the planning and more about the attitude. Why do you plan? To make yourself successful or to give God glory by your actions? A great question for self-examination.

So, what does planning God's way look like? Let me give you a true-to-life illustration.

A man that I greatly admire for the way he applies Scripture to practical living determined that he and his family could have more resources available to support Christian endeavors if they cut expenses. After discussing his conviction and some possibilities with his wife, together they planned to sell their large, very nice house and to move to less expensive accommodations.

They made their plan and followed through. I don't know the specifics of how they invested the additional resources that resulted, but I'm sure many Christian efforts over the years have benefited by their plan.

What was interesting was to see his business continue to succeed and expand during that same time. (The plans for his business always reflected Christian values as well.) They've never looked back.

So the key to successful planning is to consider carefully what you're trying to accomplish, how you are going about accomplishing it, and for what reasons, making sure it all honors God.

When Plans Go South/Go Deep

"Not to plan is to plan to fail."
Solomon could have said that, because he did believe in planning. It just doesn't seem that way to the casual reader.

The sayings of Solomon are often simple, but they are not one-dimensional. You'll miss the deep stuff if you don't linger awhile. Also, you'll miss the texture if you don't compare the sayings to get the full context.

Here's what I see Solomon saying about planning: Planning is a beneficial thing for the wise to do. But, even in the midst of planning, the righteous person maintains a perspective that God is in control and that He may take circumstances a different direction than they were intended.

If you are a wise person, you should be okay with that. Many of Solomon's other sayings indicate his faith that God works in favor of the righteous. Exercising wisdom, a person can trust God even when the best laid plans don't work out.

Solomon also makes clear that your plans need to fit God. In other words, if your plans violate the tenets of God, don't expect them to succeed. He won't bless them.

Here's my back-up:

• Planning is beneficial--"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." (Pr 21:5)
• But God is in control--"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Pr 19:21)
• God watches over the righteous--"The Lord detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless." (Pr. 11:20)
• Make God-friendly plans--"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." (Pr 16:3)

Solomon also offers some good advice when it comes to planning. Don't be a lone ranger when you plan (Pr 20:18). Seek out good counsel as you consider options (Pr. 15:22).

So, go ahead and make those plans. Just include God in the process.

I'll wrap up this series Friday.

When Plans Go South/Think About It

"Best laid plans!"
It sure makes life interesting. It's the central reason why we watch sports.

No matter how well you plan, who you choose to be on your team, how diligently you strategize, or even how hard you work, anything can happen. It's not over till it's over, as they say.

So why plan at all? Sometimes it feels like that.

Solomon even seems to express that sentiment: "To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue." (Proverbs 16:1) It's Solomon's clever way of saying, "The Lord has the last word on what happens."

So is Solomon saying not to plan? If so, then why would he say, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed" just a few sentences later?

Okay, which is it? Think about it and we'll go deeper mid-week.