Sometimes are plans are short-term, sometimes they need to be long-term. There is a joke told about a Russian man back under Communist Russia who wanted to buy a car so he goes to the agency and puts his money down. The clerk told him he may pick his car up in ten years – this is Communist Russia, of course. So, in ten years he will have his new car. But the Russian man asked, “Can I pick it up in the morning or the afternoon?” The clerk was puzzled, “Ten years from now!? Morning or afternoon, what difference does it make?” And the Russian replied, “Well, the plumber is scheduled to come in the morning.”
Solomon, in the book of Proverbs, gives us a lot of insight into this idea of making plans for the future: 4:26-27. Make plans. Stay focused. Then you’ll be productive (see also 9:6),
Our study will focus on one theme that runs through the book of Proverbs, a “Power Point” from Proverbs, on making plans for the future. Let’s listen to what Solomon says…
MAKE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE: 6:6, 8; 14:8, 15.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that we need to make plans for the future, including plans for emergencies. The car is going to break down. The refrigerator is going to quit working. It does not have to knock us off our feet when it happens. We can make plans. Think about who you are. Think about what you can do. Make plans that will capitalize on who you are and what you can do.
DON’T PUT SELFISH DESIRES AT THE CENTER OF YOUR PLANS: 1:19, 31; 3:31; 10:9; 13:6; 14:12.
Solomon is saying that if you live your life through selfish pursuits, you will reap the results. For many reasons, we ought not to put selfish desires at the center of our plans, but rather: how can I develop my own skills so that I might be as effective for my service to the Lord as possible?
So, keep God and His ways at the center of your plans: What will help you stay faithful to God and use the skills He has given you? If you make those types of plans…
GOD WILL BLESS YOUR FUTURE: 2:8; 3:23; 4:11-12; 5:21; 16:1-3.
This is a general principle and the book of Job is designed to help us understand that the faithful do not always live a problem-free life. But, in general, God will bless our future when we put Him and service to Him at the center. Then your ways will be before the Lord and He will watch your paths. God may close some doors to you. But He’ll open the proper doors to help you be successful in your plans.
It will also help, in making plans, to…
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SEEK GUIDANCE FROM OTHERS: 11:14; 12:15, 26; 15:22; 20:18; 24:6.
We begin by seeking guidance from God, but sometimes God’s guidance comes to us through the wise advice of those around us.
MAKE PLANS THAT FOCUS ON DOING / BEING GOOD: 2:20; 3:5-6, 17.
Keep acknowledging God in the forefront of your mind and heart. Then He will make your paths straight, that is, give you success and victory.
LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES: 6:23.
Of course, our plans we make are not always going to succeed. We are not infallible people and sometimes, our plans are imperfect. So, we need to learn from our mistakes.
Finally, if we have made wise plans, based on good advice from wise Christians, and we put God at the center of those plans, and they are plans to use our skills to make other people’s lives better, then it is okay for us to enjoy the fruits of our plans…
ENJOY YOUR PLANS: 14:14; 21:5.
The “diligent” are those who work hard. Solomon calls on us to make plans and then focus on those plans to make them a reality. If you are “hasty” or “impetuous” or “fly by the seat of your pants” in life, then you will not enjoy life as much as possible and you might even “come to poverty.” That’s not God’s plan for our lives.
Make wise plans, based on good advice from wise Christians. Put God at the center of those plans, and make plans to use your skills to make other people’s lives better. Then it will be okay to enjoy the fruits of your plans.
Paul Holland
