“I don’t care. It’s too late to change. I’ve got the plans made, and I’m going through with it.”
Sometimes we forge ahead with our inflexible plans, ignoring or being annoyed by interruptions or interceptions. We elbow our way through the hurdles; we ignore the yield signs, even speed through amber signals, and run the stop lights and speed bumps. We bulldoze ahead.
Fixed purpose but flexible plans? Sometimes it’s just the opposite in our lives: fixed plans that we have nailed down but a wishy-washy, poorly defined purpose. Too often, we have clear plans, but our purpose is lacking in specificity. Spiritual purpose should guide all our plans.
Before making our plans for the future, we must know God’s purpose for our lives. Our purpose should be fixed, but our plans kept flexible.
Which is easier – to write down your purpose or to list your plans? Are you open to changing your current plans? Or are you charging ahead like a bull that sees red? Or like a moving robot with broken sensors?
Have you ever noticed the fluid and flexible plans of the Apostle Paul and his co-workers in 1Corinthians 16?
Paul was writing the Corinthian Christians about sending financial help to the poor believers in Jerusalem. He told the elders to select messengers to hand deliver the gift to Jerusalem. But then he added this interesting note:
…if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.” 1Corinthians 16:4
“Excuse me, Paul – aren’t you the busy Apostle with prior commitments and plans? Check your calendar again. Would you really be able to go to Jerusalem on short notice if the elders thought it would be a good idea for you to accompany the others? Are you saying that you have some flexibility in your plans?”
“Are you asking me about my plans? Well, I plan to go to Corinth for a visit, but only after I visit Macedonia, which I intend to do.”
…I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia.” 1Corinthians 16:5
“Oh, that’s nice. So you are planning to come to Corinth to see us. How long can we expect to have you around?”
… perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter so that you may help me on my journey wherever I go.” 1Corinthians 16:6
“So it will be a little while before we see you? After all, you know that you are just a skip, hop and jump away from us. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but really if you just sailed across the Aegean Sea from Ephesus to us in Corinth – the trip wouldn’t be all that long.”
“No, not right now,” Paul says.
For I will not see you now in passing, for I hope to remain a certain time with you, if the Lord permit. 1Corinthians 16:7 JND
“I plan to stay here in Ephesus until Pentecost because the Lord is working here. I am happy to change my plans in order to serve Christ, here and now, while this door of opportunity is wide open.”
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me.” 1Corinthians 16:8-9
Paul prayerfully made tentative plans for the future, but they were always subject to further direction from the Lord. His plans were flexible, but his purpose was inflexible. His fixed purpose was to happily submit to the Lord of his life and serve Christ each day —however, those plans and activities might unfold.
Paul’s fixed purpose in life was clear:
For to me to live is Christ.” Philippians 1:21
His overarching life purpose was: all for Christ. His plans were always subject to those factors that maximized his usefulness for the Lord. He planned within those parameters, and then he submitted his plans to the Lord, who always had the final say – the last word.
Leslie Jordan Sang About Heaven the Day before He Died Unexpectedly
Are you struggling with planning and knowing the Lord’s will in your life? Try praying, for the next 30 days, a prayer like this:
“Lord, I need direction. You are the Lord of my life. I submit all my interests, affections, plans and intentions to You. At any cost, I want to make choices that maximize my usefulness for You. Make known to my treacherous heart any hidden schemes or inner desires that will not be helpful in my usefulness to You.”
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ,
Peter Ramsay