Business Plans

Business Plans

James 4: ¹³ Now listen to me, you that say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to a certain city, where we will stay a year and go into business and make a lot of money.” ¹⁴ You don't even know what your life tomorrow will be! You are like a puff of smoke, which appears for a moment and then disappears. ¹⁵ What you should say is this: “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ But now you are proud, and you boast; all such boasting is wrong.

 

¹⁷ So then, if we do not do the good we know we should do, we are guilty of sin.

 

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After the promotion, my sites were set on the top spot. I could see myself running the entire “world” at this particular company. When the top person got wind of my promotion, I had more of a fight than I planned for. I lost the battle.

 

• I did not get what I planned.
• I did not reach what I thought I should reach.
• I did not know GOD had something better in store for me.

 

James spoke specifically to those who were boasting about their plans. Business people were probably using statements of expansion and greenfield markets. He warned them to use the correct words when making plans.

 

My Observations:

• My plans are weak unless GOD says “Yes.”
• Anything I think I will do has to be blessed by GOD “allowing” it to happen.
• GOD’s plans will always happen so I have to align to HIS will.

 

Making plans for the future is necessary for business people. I mean, fiscal projections and future orders help businesses run smoothly to provide great service. All projections and future plans need to be put under GOD by saying these words “If it is HIS will.”

 

This means I, as a business person, knows that anything can happen and it is GOD who has control. When I add the “anything can happen” factor to my plans, I am more ready for circumstances that may arise. I may even live my life differently, knowing JESUS could return at a moment’s notice. I gladly give my plans to GOD.

 

Challenge

• Does the writer say “Do not make plans” or “make plans, aligning them to GOD’s will?”
• Have you ever made a plan and something totally unexpected happened to cancel those plans?
• Will you align to GOD’s will, knowing plans can change, and praise HIM for every moment HE allows you to do HIS will?

Willing and Able

Luke 5: ¹² And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

¹³ Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. ¹⁴ And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”

¹⁵ However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. ¹⁶ So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

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“LORD I don’t know what to do!” was my cry. I just sat there in tears as it seemed like everything I tried to accomplish was falling apart rapidly. Broken relationships, broken vehicles and broken appliances piled up.

• Sometimes it seemed like GOD wasn’t listening.
• Sometimes it seemed like I was the problem and I could not find a solution.
• Sometimes it seemed like there was no end to the pain I was going through.

With tears in his eyes, the man begged JESUS to get rid of his infirmities as if to say, “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!” He then said to JESUS “If YOU are willing, YOU can make me clean.” He had faith that JESUS could do anything but also knew permission was necessary.

• JESUS tells me to have faith that HE can do anything.
• JESUS tells me to believe that HE is willing to do anything for me.
• JESUS tells me to know HE wants me to ask for anything and it will be given to me.

After begging JESUS for some help, it seemed like things eased up for me. I mean just as fast as everything went bad, they turned around to good. Relationships started healing and so did the material possessions. I could only thank GOD for bringing me through the storms of life.

• Are you going through something?
• Do you feel like GOD isn’t hearing you?
• Will you cry out to GOD today and ask HIM “If YOU are willing” and allow HIM to say “yes” or “no” to your request but believe HE has to power to do all things?

I must plan the right way

Acts 18: ²⁰ When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. ²¹ But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” Then he set sail from Ephesus.

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“I will call” or “I will be at that event” or “I will achieve that certain level within so many years” was my style of talking in the past. The funny thing was I didn’t call, or I may have achieved the level but the grass was dead at the top and I missed “that” event I promised I would attend.

Why is the future so uncertain?

• When I plan without considering GOD, my plans fail.
• When I plan without considering what GOD is doing, I get in the way of what HE is doing in my life.
• When I plan without considering how GOD has blessed me in the past, I move forward with fear.

“If the LORD is willing and the creek don’t rise” was a statement my elders used to say. This colloquialism is to say “If GOD allows me to.” Many times I failed in my plans because I didn’t see what GOD was doing. I ran fast and steady while being blind to GOD.

• “If it is GOD’s will” should be said before I make my plan.
• “If it is GOD’s will” should be said when a desire pops into my head.
• “If it is GOD’s will” should be said about any movement I make.

What happens when I do something without it being “GOD’s will?” GOD allows my plan to move forward and HE allows the consequences of my failure to fall on me. HE doesn’t do it in an “I told you so“ fashion like I would rather HE has already been in the future and doesn’t want me to run into the wall.

GOD’s plan is full of compassion for my mistakes. When I follow my own plan it’s like telling GOD “YOU are stupid and I know better.” GOD wants me to ask HIM “LORD what do YOU want me to do?” rather than telling HIM “I’m going in this direction, will you please help me?”  Acknowledging HIS plan is the best way for me to make my plan.

• Are you planning something?
• Have you asked GOD “do YOU want me to do this?”
• When you get the thing you are praying for how has it benefitted the growth of GOD’s kingdom?
• Are you sure your prayer isn’t an attempt to manipulate GOD into following you?
• Are you willing to accept “no” or “try this thing instead?”