Back to Basics
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
“The Best Laid Plans…”
3Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 NLT
One of the more ironic realities in the church of Jesus Christ in America today is that often followers of Jesus in American churches think that what we need is more INFORMATION. I have been told many times over the years, for example that a person needed a little more information—another class, or another book to read—before being ready to share the Good News with others. Certainly, knowledge is important for us as followers of Jesus, but today’s Scripture and so many more point out that at the end of the day, our knowledge must be converted to action. Look at the statement again: 3Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3 NLT
Planning is important. Having the information necessary to make good plans is important, but if we START by committing our actions—ALL of them—to the Lord, then we’re told that our plans will succeed. Successful plans are the best kind of plans. We all want our plans to succeed when we make them, and yet many times even if our plans succeeded we would end up worse off than if we didn’t act. Why? Because our plans aren’t appropriate. The plans are made to guide us to “success” in areas that don’t matter eternally, or if they do, matter because they draw us away from Jesus. But if we COMMIT our ACTIONS to the Lord, then our plans will be right, and they will succeed. King Solomon is pointing out to us in another way that the motivation behind our plans is paramount. It doesn’t matter in the end if we fulfill our plans, unless the plans come from a pure heart. At the same time, if we have made a prior commitment—a commitment before we do anything—to commit our actions to the Lord, then our plans will be guided by Him, and their completion will advance the Kingdom of God! That’s the goal, right? The goal is to act in such a way, and with such commitment that we bring glory to God, and see His Kingdom grow. As we go about 2008, may we set our hearts to ACT always in God’s will, and may our plans be immersed in that set of the heart!
What actions have you been planning to carry out in 2008? Are the actions and the plans committed to the Lord? If so, then pursue them with all your heart, knowing that He is going to bring success. If they aren’t, then it’s time to plan some different actions and plans. Just remember, that when everything’s been said and done, it’s necessary that something gets DONE. Talk and planning are important, but action in the Lord’s name is vital. At the end of 2008 our goal is NOT to have planned more than everyone else, but to have committed our actions to the Lord!
Questions and Comments for Reflection and Action:
Have you committed your actions to the Lord for 2008? If not, take some time right now to do so.
What do you need to do today, to see that your actions become more and more committed to the Lord? List a couple actions and DO them!