bits from bob....

Planning

by Robert J. Young
©, 2001, Robert J. Young
[permission is given to reprint with credit noted]

If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time. Joel wrote to Israel of old concerning the valley of decision. We live in days, months, years, decades of decision. Since we never do more than we plan to do, each person should plan life.

What guidelines can we use to plan solid Christian lives?

• 1. Planning does not depend upon my presence. I read recently of a man who was encouraging the church to plan toward the year 2033 and the celebration of 2000 years of church history, the 2000th birthday of the church. The man was 83 years old! We must plan beyond ourselves. The church will be here even when I am not, unless the Lord returns first. Planning does not depend upon any human presence, but upon God's presence. God will be here! What does he want his people to busy themselves doing?

• 2. Planning must aim toward God's goals. In a world where the church is daily tempted toward worldliness, our goals must be of God and not of human perspective. We seek to please God, not human beings. Man may devise numerous goals, but the ultimate mission for the church must be of God. Every idea must be screened by asking, "Does this move us toward God's goals for his church?"

• 3. Planning must be let go. Planning must not be boxed in by man's peanut thinking. Doesn't our 83 year old man above know that 2033 is still 30 years off? Has he figured out how old he will be (or how dead he will be) in 2033? The sky's the limit. I'll not argue when you place limits in some areas of life, but planning must be unlimited. If God wants it done, he will provide the resources and strength.

What would you like to see the church do? Start your list. Don't worry about whether you'll be around to see it. Make certain you are reflecting God's mission. Dream big.