Planning Spiritual Growth

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty" (Prov. 21:5, ESV).

Many have misunderstood James 4:13-17 to say that we shouldn't plan.  In reality, James is warning against the kind of planning that leaves God out of the mix.  Solomon reminds us that diligence in planning and working reap an abundant harvest.  Just as diligence in the material realm produces material abundance, diligence in the spiritual realm produces spiritual abundance. If we want to see spiritual fruit our lives, we have to have a plan, and work it with diligence.  As we plan our spiritual growth, we need to make sure that we aren't planning the wrong things, that we plan with the help of others, and that we submit ourselves to God's plan.

Solomon says, "Whoever plans evil will be called a schemer" (Prov. 24:8, see also Prov. 6:18; 16:30).  The schemes of the wicked will never bear the kind of fruit they desire.  The end of all their schemes is trouble.  We cannot fake out God.  He sees through the most elaborate plans of man with ease.  As we plan, we need to plan in light of God's revealed Word, and not contrary to it.  If we don't, we'll only destroy ourselves.

If we are going to plan our spiritual growth, we will need to do more than avoid scheming.  Solomon advises, "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisors they succeed" (Prov. 15:22; see also Prov. 20:18).  Failure to seek the advise of godly people throws a wrench in our plans.  Human beings were not designed to operate alone.  The Lord designed us to need social interaction.  When we seek the counsel of others, it sharpens our thinking, gives us insights that, most likely, we would not have otherwise gained, and it can generate a network of supportive encouragement.  We need to make our plans with the help of others.

The counsel of wise and godly friends is invaluable, but we must also seek counsel from the Lord.  As we pursue our spiritual growth, we have to plan with the will of God in mind.  Solomon warns, "Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand" (Prov. 19:21; See also Prov. 16:1, 3, 9).  Ultimately, God's will is the only one that will prevail.  David planned a temple for the Lord with great passion and in great detail, but it was not his to build.  Sometimes we have great dreams we want to see come to fruition, but it is another who picks the fruit.  The saying, "Lord willing," must flow naturally and freely from our hearts.  Our goal in planning our spiritual growth should be to glorify the Lord.

We must become the kind of people who work and plan with diligence.  The principles that guide our work life or our hobbies can and must be applied to spiritual ends.  If we want to get in better shape physically, we don't just join a gym and then stay home on the couch.  No, we have to go and exercise.  Each day we go a little farther on the treadmill, add another flight on the stair-master, or add additional weights to our routine.  If we want to get better at our job, we have to learn additional skills, and hone them to perfection.  It is therefore safe to conclude that the desire to grow spiritually can only be accomplished as we learn and practice spiritual truth.

We must approach our spiritual growth plan with a simple formula: hard work + determination + perseverance = success.  We need to plan the right things with the help of godly people for the glory of the Lord.  As we do that, we will reap an abundant harvest.  With our faith firmly anchored in the work of Christ, we take hold of the means that God has appointed to bring about spiritual growth, and we labor to the glory of the Lord.  We do what God has told us to do, but we trust him to bring about the result.  With that in mind, what kind of spiritual growth plan do you have?  What ways will you use to draw closer to the Lord in the coming days? weeks? months? years?  Do you have a plan?  Are you going to follow it with diligence?

Diligently Seeking Good

"Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to him who searches for it" (Prov. 11:27, ESV).

The little verse reminds us that our task as God's people is to diligently seek him. To seek good is to seek God. The pursuit of good is more than the pursuit of morality. It is the pursuit of that which pleases God, because it reflects his character. Those who pursue "good," or what we might call righteousness or holiness, seek God himself. It is impossible for us to find good apart from God.

Solomon warns his listener that evil is easily found. It waits like a snake coiled in the grass or a cat ready to pounce. One does not have to be diligent to find it. Even a causal search will yield more than enough trouble.

But goodness must be searched for with diligence. God desires the whole person: mind, heart, soul and strength. The gospel makes heavy demands upon those who believe its message. It calls for them to bear the cross, deny themselves, and to follow after Christ. The gospel calls us to repent of our sin and to cling to Christ, in faith, as our sole righteousness. It also calls for us to persevere in repentance and faith.

Diligence should mark a Christian's life. They should be known as people who press hard toward goodness, and who reflect that goodness in their dealings with others. We should be diligent in all we do, but we should be especially diligent in our pursuit of good. When we understand that pursuing good is pursuing God, it can help us to be diligent. The God who saves us is the God who places within us the desire to pursue him. He promises to reveal himself to us if we will search for him with diligence.