The Double Minded Man (Pastor Charles Lawson)

Godly planning versus wordly planning

Written and posted by Jean-Louis.

Excerpt from personal journal 2/3/88

II Cor 1:2-22.

For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved ourselves in the world, in holiness and sincerity of God, not in worldly wisdom but in the grace of God, and more abundantly towards you. 13 For we write no other things to you, than what you can read or even acknowledge, and I hope you will acknowledge to the end: 14 as also you did acknowledge us in part, that we are your glorying, even as you also are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.
15 Because I was confident of this, I had in mind to come to you first, that you might benefit twice; 16 and by you to pass into Macedonia , and again from Macedonia to come to you, and to have you send me on my journey to Judaea . 17 When I planned this, did I show fickleness (did I do it lightly)? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner? So that in the same breath I say: “Yes, Yes and No, No”
18 But as surely as God is faithful, our word toward you is not yea and nay. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, [even] by me and Silvanus and Timothy, was not yes and no, but in him is always yes. 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, in him, they are: yes in Christ. And so through him we speak the Amen unto the glory of God. 21 Now it is God that who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us and 22 put His Spirit in our hearts.

Why do we sometimes make some decisions in a worldly manner?
Isn’t it wise to weigh the pros and the cons?
Is there a better, wiser and godlier way?

Sometimes, like the people in the world, we waver and vacillate in our planning based on fear of the unknown, changing outward circumstances and other people’s (counselors, friends?) limited understanding of our situation.
On the other hand, godly planning is based on the rock solid promises of our eternal, unchanging, loving and caring heavenly Father and Lord Jesus-Christ.

It is true that sometimes the Lord´s guidance and directions are puzzling to say the least as this seemingly contradictory instruction to Joshua in Joshua 3: 3-7: and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God with the Levitical priests carrying it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. ⁴ However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 ^[a]cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 

Solomon, the wisest man in the world has this good advice for us. He should know , he tried it all in his quest for wisdom. Listen to what he has to say. This biblical principle has guided my life and increased my confidence and trust in my All-Knowing Father and King. 

Who is like the wise man and who knows the interpretation of a matter? A man’s wisdom illumines ^[a]him and causes his stern face to ^[b]beam.
² I say, “Keep the ^[c]command of the king because of the oath ^[d]before God. ³ Do not be in a hurry ^[e]to leave him. Do not join in an evil matter, for he will do whatever he pleases.” ⁴ Since the word of the king is authoritative, who will say to him, “What are you doing?”
⁵ He who keeps a royal command experiences no ^[f]trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. ⁶ For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, though a man’s trouble is heavy upon him. ⁷ If no one knows what will happen, who can tell him when it will happen? Ecclesiates 8:1:7

In our apprehensions, doubts and hesihatations,s  waver between the “yes or Pros” which could be a self-centered response to the positive gain we project, but we can have an equally self-centered response when we consider the “No or Cons”.
We think that somehow if the “yeses” outweigh the “nos”, we can go ahead, make our move and feel secure in having made a balanced, rational and wise decision.

But what actually happened is that we have kept our eyes on ourselves, on the “yeses” that represent what would benefit us and the “nos” or what would be our loss in the decision making process. This decision is based on our very limited knowledge of as many factors involved as we know would affect our lives.
We haven’t considered and cannot foresee that farther down the road a seemingly positive circumstance or situation might turn negative or vice-versa, and then what?

But God has a better way of planning for His obedient children who trust Him and follow Him by faith. He already knows the future, what is ahead and the end result.
With Him it is always “Yes” because by His mighty power and through His perfect will and grace the No’s can be turned into “Yeses”. (Consider the stories of Joseph, David and Daniel and if I may humbly add, mine).
No matter what, His ways are perfect and once we have found out what His will is for our lives in any given situation, we can move in the knowledge of His will with the confidence that no matter what the circumstances, He will guide, direct, protect and sustain us on the way.
And we know that ^[a]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.

Our part is to ask, inquire of Him, be attentive and listen, be receptive, wait patiently for Him to open the door and lead the way step by step. Once we have heard and know His direction, instructions and command, we can move on with His plan slowly, cautiously and prayerfully, but confidently. He will let us know if we are deviating if we are in tune with and sensitive to His Shepherd’s voice.

Notice that the promises are always “Yes” in Christ.
Who is it that gives the promises, who makes us stand up? God the Father, and our Lord Jesus.
Who are you to judge the ^[a]servant of another? To his own ^[b]master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4

How are they realized? Through the Holy Spirit sealing and anointing.
Here we see the three persons of the Triune Godhead harmoniously working together to bring about their will and purpose in the lives of His believing children according to the perfect, eternal unchanging Word and sure promises of our gracious, merciful, wise, loving and caring God.

So the solution to our seeking to make the best decisions possible in our lives is that through Christ, the promises of God believed and acted upon by faith, under the anointing and guidance of the Word and Holy Spirit, will be answered by our Amen, so be it Lord, may your will be done to the glory of the Father.

To summarize: I. God gives the promise.
II. The promise comes through Jesus who puts His stamp of approval on it. The Holy Spirit earnest is the guarantee of the realization of the promises of God in our lives. II Corinthiens
1:21,22; 5:5 
III. We can say “yes and Amen” to the promise and accept it in faith or say “No” and never know what God’s will and purpose were. The choice is ours.
IV. God is glorified when we believe and trust Him in faith.

Jean-Louis. 10/23/04