Strategy of Planning

In the past, all of us have often been given a project to complete – at school, at work, at home, in the community, or on a team.  When we start working on a project the first thing we need to ask ourselves is, “Where should I begin?”  The answer to that question is simple – we should begin at the beginning; and of course, the beginning should include a plan. The plan should answer additional questions such as: (1) What should the completed project look like? (2) Who are the people who might help design and work on the project? (3) What resources are available for me to use? (4) What will be expected of everyone who participates in the project? (5) Is there a timeline identified to check progress? (6) How will the final project be presented and promoted?

The Bible identifies things that plans should include such as:

 1)    Progress: Plans should help propel the project to accomplishment. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

2)    Guidance: Plans need the counsel of others. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).

3)    Spiritual Dimension: Plans made with God in mind point to success. “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3).

4)    Completion: Plans should include finishing the project. “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means” (2 Corinthians 8:11).

Do you have a project to complete? Have you put together plans for that project? Have you included God and other counselors in your plan? Are you ready to give God the glory for His guidance and help as you proceed? The Bible reminds us, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Old and New

Depending on our age we have different perspectives about what is “old” and what is “new.”  When we were young, old things seemed irrelevant, outdated, and invaluable. As we matured, older things appeared meaningful, were accepted as antiques to enjoy, and were items to be conserved and cherished.

Actions, attitudes, and physical things from the past may be old but they are good and should be valued. For example, wisdom comes from those who are older. “Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?” (Job 12:12). Good things that are old need to be valued. “Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you” (Deuteronomy 32:7).

Jewish religious leaders enjoyed their old oral traditions, so they added others to the written law. Of course, it is not surprising that the religious leaders wanted to keep these traditions because they had great meaning for them. However, when Jesus came on the scene, he brought something new – a personal relationship with God. That meant that certain old traditions should be set aside because the new had come and it was much better.

The new is exactly what Jesus came to offer including a new life. “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4). In addition, freedom in Christ was now possible. “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6).

The Apostle Paul pointed to the new when he identified a lifestyle with Christ. The new begins with being “in Christ.” He said, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17). With faith and trust in Christ we can enjoy a new life through the power that God gives us. That means that we can do away with the old self and become a new and different person in all that we think and do. It is time that we become “new” in Christ because it will make a tremendous difference in the way we live. With a personal relationship with God through faith and trust in Jesus Christ we can become involved in a companionship that empowers us to live for God by the power of God’s Spirit.

Where Has the Time Gone

As another year passes, you might ask the question, “Where has the time gone?”  You look at your children, and it seems that just a brief time ago they were in elementary school. Now they are adults with children of their own. You have an important home project to complete, but a year has passed, and the project is still incomplete. Your home needs remodeling and you think you have all the time in the world to get the project completed. But you know that it is not going to happen. You are close to retirement, but you have no plans for what you will do when you step away from your work. So, the question keeps coming up – “How has another year passed so quickly?”

The Bible notes that a lifetime is just like a mist or a shadow that is present for an abbreviated time and then fades away. Scripture says, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). It also says, “Man … springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure” (Job 14:1-2). The psalmist summed up his thoughts on time when he said, “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away” (Psalms 90:10). Where has the time gone and what can we do about it? Here are ways to address the quick passing of time.

 1)    Recognize the brevity of life. “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is” (Psalm 29:4).

2)    Live your life in a godly way. “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15).

3)    Wisely use the time allotted to you. “Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

4)    Determine that you need a personal heart change regarding time. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12).

5)    Plan ways to influence others. “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders” (Colossians 4:5).

The brevity of life should cause each of us to evaluate how we use the time God has given us. Soon, time will run out for us. We need to make an impact for the cause of the Lord before it is too late. Make sure your life counts for Christ, for family, and for eternity.