Copyright 2009 Dalpark Seventh Day Adventist Church
It is wise to plan ahead. It's in the Bible, Proverbs 13:16, TLB. "A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn't and even brags about it!"
Don't worry. Put your plans in God's hands. It's in the Bible, Matthew 6:34, TLB. "So don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time."
Get wise counsel to help you in your planning. It's in the Bible, Proverbs 15:22, TLB. "Plans go wrong with too few counselors; many counselors bring success."
Plan carefully and deliberately, not in haste. It's in the Bible, Proverbs 21:5, NIV. "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."
Careful planning should include submission to God. It's in the Bible, James 4:13-16, TLB. "Look here, you people who say, 'Today or tomorrow we are going to such and such a town, stay there a year, and open up a profitable business.' How do you know what is going to happen tomorrow? For the length of your lives is as uncertain as the morning fog—now you see it; soon it is gone. What you ought to say is, 'If the Lord wants us to, we shall live and do this or that.' Otherwise you will be bragging about your own plans, and such self-confidence never pleases God."
Wise men plan ahead. It's in the Bible, Luke 14:28-31, TLB. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?"
What is God's plan for us? It's in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11-13, TLB and Ephesians 1:5,9-10, RSV "He destined us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will…For He has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of His will, according to His purpose which He set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth."