December 1 – Purpose in Planning (Isaiah 25:1)

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.”(Proverbs 21:5)

IN WORD:
“Haste makes waste.” It’s a proverb many of us grew up with, and it’s a reflection of biblical truth. Those who are diligent and want to accomplish much cannot approach life haphazardly. Diligence implies a plan and haste is an enemy of planning.
We who are remade in God’s image can take our cues from God. The Bible frequently refers to His plans, and we often refer to the plan of salvation, the plan for the end of times, and all sorts of other designs from His hand. We can be reasonably sure that God didn’t figure out what to do on the second day of creation after He got through with the first. His wisdom had a purpose in mind when He began. And His plans have been long and thorough. God does not make it up on the run. Neither should we.
God is certainly not an enemy of spontaneity, but He is an enemy of carelessness. Philip was responding spontaneously when God put him on the Gaza road; Peter was flexible when God told him to go to Cornelius; and Paul was able to turn from Asia to Macedonia when God redirected him. Those of us who make plans and will not diverge from them under any circumstances have made the plans God. We must always hold God above the plans, not the plans above God. But given His authority, we are urged to live wisely in this world. And wisdom calls for the intentional pursuit of a godly purpose.

IN DEED:
Consider the stewardship of your time. Is it spent efficiently? Don’t think that God wants us working as machines and suppressing individuality. And don’t think that He discourages us from being flexible and available when He directs us. But also don’t assume that He advocates a random approach to our lives. The God with a purpose bears children with a purpose. And the God who has a plan to accomplish His purposes bears children who will also plan to accomplish His purposes. Without a goal, we are aimless — even when we are incredibly busy. God calls us to aim high and to know how to get there.

“Purpose is what gives life a meaning. . . . A drifting boat always drifts downstream.” -Charles H. Parkhurst-