PLANNING AND GOAL SETTING 1
13 COME NOW, YOU WHO SAY, “TODAY OR TOMORROW WE WILL GO TO SUCH AND SUCH A CITY, SPEND A YEAR THERE, BUY AND SELL, AND MAKE A PROFIT";
14 WHEREAS YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
15 INSTEAD YOU OUGHT TO SAY, “IF THE LORD WILLS, WE SHALL LIVE AND DO THIS OR THAT.”
James 4:13-15 (NKJV)
In our text, Apostle James talks about those who usually set goals or plans to do one thing or another (James 4:13).
I have heard it taught by any number of people, especially motivational speakers. Some have taught that without planing and goal settings one cannot go far in life. But what is being said or taught in the passage above, the text of this teaching, is contrary to what a number of these motivational speakers have taught.
In the passage, which is self explanatory, one can deduce that It is not right to set a goal or plan to do one thing or another If it was not commanded or instructed by God (Lamentation 3:37).
Some of the motivational speakers even believed that one has to have plan A and plan B and even plan C at times. Their assertion or claim is that, If plan A does not work, you would fall on plan B, and If that also fails, you move to plan C.
However, in my understanding, their claim amounts to guessing, there is no any iota of faith walk in it! The teaching is contradictory to the Bible, and most of those who teach such things claim to be believers even ministers of the gospel. What they teach could not be substantiated with the Bible.
Through the Word of God, the Bible, we got to know that you should not lean on your own understanding but in all your ways you should acknowledge God (Proverbs 3:5,6).
In another passage, the Bible says: "FOR AS MANY AS ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, THESE ARE SONS OF GOD" (Romans 8:14 NKJV).
Now, telling someone to set goals of one year to five years or twenty years and more. Some even said whoever does not set such goals would not amount to anything in life; yet such teachers claim to be preachers and teachers of the Bible.
The truth is, whatever is done in the flesh cannot be from God and would not be backed by Him. The Bible says: "WHO IS HE WHO SPEAKS AND IT COMES TO PASS, WHEN THE LORD HAS NOT COMMANDED IT?" (Lamentation 3:37 NKJV).
Another passage says:
"THE PREPARATIONS [plans] OF THE HEART BELONG TO MAN, BUT THE ANSWER OF THE TONGUE IS FROM THE LORD."
Proverbs 16:1 (NKJV)
Other translations of the Bible of that passage say:
"WE HUMANS MAKE PLANS, BUT THE LORD HAS THE FINAL WORD."
Proverbs 16:1 (Contemporary English Version)
"WE CAN MAKE OUR PLANS, BUT THE FINAL OUTCOME IS IN GOD'S HANDS."
Proverbs 16:1-2 (Living Bible)
"PEOPLE MAKE PLANS IN THEIR HEARTS. BUT ONLY THE LORD CAN MAKE THOSE PLANS COME TRUE."
Proverbs 16:1 (International Children’s Bible)
"PEOPLE MAY MAKE PLANS IN THEIR MINDS [hearts], BUT ONLY THE LORD CAN MAKE THEM COME TRUE [from the Lord comes a responding tongue]."
Proverbs 16:1 (Expanded Bible)
This shows us that the emphasis of those who teach on goal setting or planning does not completely align with the Word of God, the Bible.
You might make plans but the plans had to be in line with what God has said to do in your life; your ministry or whatever you are doing. Any plan made or goal set by a believer which was not commanded by God would not be materialized.
Although, this may seem to be working for some people but in my own knowledge of the Bible and in my walk with God, It does not work and it is not in line with God's pattern of doing things.
Whatever God will do has to be emanated or birthed or born by the leading of the Holy Spirit on the inside of a believer. It is not a plan or goal set through what they call brainstorming.
What a dictionary defined as a brainstorm is: A sudden clever plan or idea.
Any sudden clever plan or idea that was born or birthed through your carnal, human nature, could not have been of God and it cannot be backed by Him.
This would not work, especially for a believer who is living a consecrated and submissive life to God.
It might work for carnal believers or those who teach it, but the truth is, a believer who lives a consecrated and submissive life, It would never work—God would keep frustrating the effort of any committed believer who attempted to do it, resisting him or her, because it amounted to self sufficiency and pride in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 3:5; James 4:6).
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED