Proverb 21.5
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”
Last February I wrote the following about planning:
We can and should strategize about the future, but Proverbs reminds us to remember that the future is ultimately determined by God. This does not mean we shouldn’t plan, and it doesn’t mean that our plans don’t matter. Proverbs doesn’t discourage human planning, but rather it tells us that our plans will come to nothing without God’s blessing.
God is ultimately sovereign, and that should keep us humble. Proverbs admonishes us to plan with God’s principles as a reference point. It is a reminder to pray as we plan … to always seek the Lord’s wisdom and insight in all that we do.
Scripture also admonishes us to be self-reflective and humble in the plans that we make. It reminds us we are sometimes over-confident in our thoughts and plans, and we aren’t always aware of our true motives. The Lord, however, sees into our hearts and “weights the spirit.” He is fully aware of our motives.
This is the message in the famous passage Proverbs 3.5-8: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
Here is the prime question: What is the source of authority in your life? What reference points do you use for right and wrong? Where do you look for guidance, direction, and authority? Proverbs tells us the wise person looks to God, but the foolish person looks to self.
In the planning process, motives matter. Everybody plans and acts in order to accomplish things, and that’s OK. That’s the nature of the world that God has created, and it’s how he created us to function in the world.
But wanting things and making plans isn’t the problem; the problem we face is that our wants, desires, and plans are distorted by our old nature. As a result, we want the wrong things, or we want the right things in the wrong way. For that reason, we must have the humility and courage to examine our motives. As James says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4.3).
Motives matter. What you want and why you want it is critical. What are you seeking and why? What door are you knocking on and why? What are you asking for and why? Let us ask God for wisdom, and let us ask for the right reasons.
There are two very different ways to go through life. One is to be independent and decide that we are perfectly capable of running our own lives without God. This is the way of arrogance and pride. The arrogant cannot be told anything because they think they already know. The other is to be willing to trust and obey God. This is the way of faith and humility. As Proverbs 15.33 says, “Humility comes before honor.”
Living for our own plans and purposes can be exciting for a season, but ultimately it is a dead-end. It focuses on the the present, but does nothing for eternity. Proverbs admonishes us to be honest about the what, why, and how of our plans. To examine the motives and methods of our plans.
God gives you the freedom and responsibility to make plans. At the same time, he invites you into relationship with him and asks you trust him. Understand his purposes and obey his principles. Pray and ask for wisdom. Submit to his teaching and correction. Do disciplined work.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
