…Before your head hits the pillow…

How important is planning? or Should a Christian Plan for the Future?

Many of you may remember the Doris Day song, Que Sera, Sera, whatever will be will be. The future’s not ours to see, Que Sera, Sera. I know of Christians who live this way. They believe that investing in their future shows a lack of faith. They say that God will supply all of their needs so there is no reason to make plans, no reason to invest in the future.

Does planning for the future show a lack of faith. Does working hard, making a good living, saving and investing for the future of your family show that you don’t believe that God will take care of you?

Matthew 6:19-20 say, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;…

Matthew 6:28 says, “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.”

And Matthew 6:26 says, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

People often use these verses to say that planning for the future does show a lack of faith. That Que, Sera, Sera should be our motto. Trust in God, whatever will be will be. I believe this is wrong thinking.

Proverbs 21:5 tells us just the opposite. “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.”

Vic Williams in the September 12th writing of InHisFootsteps.com in an article entitled: Should Christians Plan or Simply Trust God? says this “The phrase ‘the plans of the diligent’ is an interesting phrase as the word translated here as ‘plans’ comes from the Hebrew words ‘machashabah machashebeth’ which can be translated as thoughts, intentions, advice, imaginations or purpose. The word diligent could also be translated as incisive, determined or eager. We could therefore read this verse of scripture as, ‘The thoughts, advice, intentions, purposes and plans of the incisive, determined, eager and diligent lead to plenty.”

We shouldn’t JUST plan for the future, we should be deliberate and intentional in our plans. We need to look at what God has for us to do and make plans to fulfill that purpose.

I was struck while reading I Chronicles 22 how David planned for the building of the temple. God had told David that he was not to build the temple, he had killed too many in battle. David’s son Solomon was to build the temple. But David didn’t just say, “Oh, okay, I will leave that up to my son, if that is what God wants.” No he made PLANS to help his son’s efforts. Although David was not to build the temple he could still plan for its building so he gathered iron for the nails and more bronze than could be weighed. He gathered nearly 4,000 tons of gold and 40,000 tons of silver. He also gathered timber and stones for the walls. Before he died he ordered all of the leaders of Israel to help Solomon build the temple. David planned.

Paul made plans in Acts 15:36 and in Romans 1:13. The apostles made plans in Acts 6:1-3

Proverbs 6:6-8 says, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has not commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Yes, not only should we plan for the future, we MUST plan for the future. Planning is wise. But we must make sure that all of our plans are covered with prayer and a petition for God’s will to be done in our lives. If we are storing up things on this earth as a replacement for honoring God, these plans will lead to nothing but destruction.

Vic Williams ended his writing with these words and I think they are a good way to end this writing of mine, “Planning for the future, with prayerful consideration is good for you and your family. It is Biblical. It shows faith and trust and it establishes your commitment to do what God has directed you to do. Plan diligently, act purposefully, and live abundantly.”