PRINCIPLE #6 : PLAN YOUR WORK AND WORK YOUR PLAN
I Plan carefully:
- “It is not good to have zeal without knowledge, nor to be hasty and miss the ways…An upright man gives thought to his ways” (Pro. 19:2; 21:29).
The ant is an example of a self-starter without supervision, who carefully plans ahead: “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest ” (Pro. 6:6- 8) (See Lk. 14:29-32)
II Seek good advice:
- “ Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise…Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning…Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid …As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another…” (Pro. 1:5; 19:20; 9:9; 12:1; 27:17). (See Pro. 2:1-9)
III Bring God into the center of your endeavors:
- “ All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord. Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed…All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the Lord weighs the heart…I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes” (Pro. 16:2,3; 21:2; Psa. 119:59).
- “ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does…When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures ” (Jms. 1:5-8; 4:3).
This week, may you experience His grace, peace, and protection.
R. Dwight Hill