Proverbs 21:5 · Proverbs 15:22 · Proverbs 11:14 · Proverbs 24:5-6 · Proverbs 24:27 · Luke 14 · Proverbs 16:9 · Acts 2:23 · Proverbs 21:31 · Proverbs 16:3 · Proverbs 27:1
God and Man
This sermon examines how the wise person balances careful planning and consultation with dependence on God's direction, recognizing that while we make plans, God ultimately determines the outcome.
Introduction
God created within us a desire to plan. Some of us are better planners than others, but all of us make plans. “What do you plan to do with your life?” we ask recent graduates. “What are you planning to do on vacation?” we ask our co-workers. “How do you plan to solve this problem?” our employer asks. “Let’s plan a time to be away,” we say to our spouse. We are planning people. We make our plans and then we work our plan. Many times our plans work out well. Sometimes though our plans fail. There are times that we may even feel like our best planning falls short of the ideal. Sometimes the greatest plans do not succeed because others may not see their validity or because they are not well thought out.
In Proverbs there is much about planning, but the wise man plans with God in mind. The wise man plans understanding that God must not be left out of the picture. Today we are going to look at what Proverbs has to say about planning. As we begin this morning, we will engage in sharing this love meal together. It is ours to celebrate because God is the great planner. We share this communion because God planned for Jesus to be our Savior and with that great plan we are able to be in his family. Let’s celebrate God’s great planning.
Man’s Planning
There are two closely related ideas when it comes to man’s planning: the need to plan and the need to consult. In Proverbs 21:5, the key to any successful venture is careful and diligent planning. The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Hastily made plans generally fail. Plans made without the consultation of others also lead to failure as seen in Proverbs 15:22: plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Two heads are better than one.
These principles of careful planning and consultation are seen in three areas of life. The first is in leading a nation. For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure, as stated in Proverbs 11:14. Those who are heads of state need counselors. The word “guidance” carries the idea of steering a ship. When a political leader carefully plans and seeks the widest consultation possible then the ship of state is steered toward safe waters.
The second area of life is in war. Great planning must be done in order for a war to be fought and won. In Proverbs 24:5-6, the wise general engages in broad consultation before drawing up the attack plans. A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength; for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers. The wise general plans for possible situations and circumstances and plans accordingly.
The third area of life is in building a house. Proverbs 24:27 suggests that the wise man carefully plans and prepares his fields so that a stable house can be built. The wise man makes sure that the field can support the house.
Since few of us will be leaders of state or generals or have to worry if the field will support a house, what lessons can we draw from such proverbs? First, when it comes to planning we must think through the possible consequences before we act. The wise person plans; thinks of possible situations and circumstances which may arise and how to deal with the unexpected. Once the plan is put into action, the wise person stays with the plan with dogged determination because the wise person has carefully planned.
Second, the wise person in making plans seeks out the advice of others. Only the foolish person tries to exist without the influence of others. We are better people when we seek the advice of others. We are better planners when the input of others has been sought and secured.
Third, the wise person counts the cost of a project before beginning. Jesus said the same thing in Luke 14 when he was encouraging those who wanted to follow him. He likened their discipleship to the king who counts the cost of battle before going to war and the builder who counts the cost of construction before the project begins. These three points are true for any who want to be wise. All the planning is in vain if we do not plan carefully, seek the advice of others and count the cost.
God’s Will
Man plans, but the wise man understands that even careful planning without God is foolish. Proverbs 16:9 reminds us that while we plan, it is God who is going to lead the way. In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. The story of scripture is that of God who works out his purposes as he brings about his will to bring about salvation. Peter expresses the intent and purpose of God in Acts 2:23 when he writes “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge, and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” The Proverbs recognize that God is in charge and wise men include God in their plans.
As Proverbs 21:31 expresses, we make the horse ready for the day of battle, but it is foolish to rely on the horse for victory for it is God alone who can provide victory. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord. God will bring to an end those plans which do not acknowledge him and which do not serve his purpose. We need to consult with God when making our plans as seen in Proverbs 16:3: commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. If our plans are to be successful then they must be brought closer to God’s plans.
So what does this have to do with us? Two things. First, knowing that God’s will is going to be done should affect our prayer life. Why do we pray at all if there is little doubt that God’s will is to be done? Prayer is an expression of our willingness to allow our plans to be shaped by the will of God. We pray “not our will but yours” because we want God’s will to be done and we want our will to be in submission to his. Prayer is more about changing our wills than trying to change God’s. Because God’s will is going to be done, the wise person brings his will into conformity with God’s.
Second, knowing that God’s will is going to be done, then we place our trust and faith in him. Proverbs 27:1 says “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.” This verse reminds us that many things about tomorrow we don’t seem to understand, but we know who holds tomorrow and we know who holds our hand. God is faithful even when we are not. God has a plan even when we don’t. God knows what is going to happen even when we are not certain. We plan, but it is God who makes things happen. He alone is worthy of your trust, confidence, and faith.
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