Christians know that we are to have faith. It is what connects us to God and is a vital part of who we are and what we believe. But is making a plan a lack of faith? 

The problem could be our definition of faith. We have attempted to push it into something that it is not. Are there times when God says, “I’m not going to tell you the plan, just trust me.” Yes, a lot in fact!

We also need to understand that there are times when having a plan is still having faith. Having a plan doesn’t mean a lack of faith.

For example, if you plan a family budget, that is not a lack of faith. Many verses in Scripture talk about managing money well, saving it for times down the road, and investing it. The faith here is that we are trusting that God’s plan for money is the right plan. It still takes faith to believe that God’s plan for money is the best. Not planning financially can be reckless, or cause a family crisis.

Jesus even uses the principle of preparation and planning for a construction project. It’s not the main point of the passage, but in Luke 14:28-30, He says, “for which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” 

Not only is making plans not a lack of faith, but it is good and godly to ask for counsel in your plans. We are called to find those who are more seasoned than us to receive advice. This would be both in age, wisdom, and spiritual maturity. Proverbs 15:22 says, “without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” 

Redemption through Jesus was planned to save us from our sins and prophesied in the Old Testament for generations. I Peter 1:20 says, “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” Jesus dying on the cross for our sins was planned before God created the world.

There are a lot of arenas in life we can plan: budgets, careers, trips, life goals, retirements, and many other places. Having a plan is not sin. If God has told us what His plan for us is, and we follow it, that is having faith. There are times He calls us to obey without seeing what is going on or the future, but there are a lot of times when plans are necessary because God calls us to plan.

Do you use “I have faith” as an excuse to not have a plan? Where are we called to follow God without a plan? Where has God laid out plans for our life?

Thanks for taking time to read this Maddening Theology post. If you enjoyed this content you can find Pastor Tim’s sermons at www.cornerstoneforestcity.org. You can also join us at 520 Marion St. Browndale, PA 18421 on Sundays at 10 AM. To make following the blog easier you can also register. You can also join us on Facebook at Cornerstone Forest City. Also, don’t forget to download our APP on iTunes  or Googleplay.