Godly Planning

Toward a New Creation
Judgment and Salvation

The Consequences of Disobedience

Proverbs 16:1-9  The Message

Everything with a Place and a Purpose

16 Mortals make elaborate plans,
    but God has the last word.

² Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good;
    God probes for what is good.

³ Put God in charge of your work,
    then what you’ve planned will take place.

⁴ God made everything with a place and purpose;
    even the wicked are included—but for judgment.

⁵ God can’t stomach arrogance or pretense;
    believe me, he’ll put those upstarts in their place.

⁶ Guilt is banished through love and truth;
    Fear-of-God deflects evil.

⁷ When God approves of your life,
    even your enemies will end up shaking your hand.

⁸ Far better to be right and poor
    than to be wrong and rich.

⁹ We plan the way we want to live,
    but only God makes us able to live it.

 

For Reflection

We delude ourselves when we assume that we have the power to change circumstance or resolve problems.  We forget that God is in charge and God will decide among the plans which ones will be implemented.  When we put God in charge of our work then and only then will our plans succeed.  "We plan the way we want to live but only God makes us able to live it."

Pray

that you will put God in charge of you life.  Pray that what you plan is consistent with the will of God.  Pray that your life will be an example of how love and truth deflect evil.