Is Planning Biblical?

Is planning biblical? As New Testament, Holy Spirit indwelt believers in Jesus Christ, shouldn’t our view of leadership be simply to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead? Aren’t mission and vision statements and strategic planning contrary to a Spirit filled, Spirit led life? In 2 Kings 19:25 God speaks these words through Isaiah, “Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass.” Speaking of the crucifixion of Christ, 1 Peter 1:20 says that “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” The word foreknow can either mean “to know ahead of time,” or “to pre-determine.” Either way, these passages are a few among many that indicate that planning is an inherent part of the nature of God. God is a planner. He planned the redemption of mankind and all creation before he even created it.

When mankind was created, man was placed in Eden “to work it and keep it. (Gen 2:15). Work and planning are integral parts of working and keeping a garden. In considering the question of whether planning is biblical, it helps to look at Early Church leadership. In Acts 16 the Apostle Paul had a plan. He held his plan loosely and with humility so that when the Holy Spirit had another plan, he quickly dropped his plan and followed the Holy Spirit’s lead, taking the gospel to Macedonia. But he had a plan. When the Apostles were challenged concerning the feeding of the Hellenist widows in Acts 6, the Apostles came up with a plan to address the problem. When James writes about planning in James 4:13-16 he concludes in verse 15, “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’” He is not saying, “Do not plan.” Rather, he is saying that when you plan, hold your plans loosely and with humility.

Elders are called to lead as well as preach and teach according to 1 Tim 5:17. Part of leading involves prayerful planning with humility, realizing that the Holy Spirit always has the prerogative to upend our plans. Is planning biblical? Absolutely! Planning is a part of the very nature of God. It is required in order to do that to which he has called us as individuals created in his image. As believers we recognize that the Holy Spirit can as easily lead us in developing our plans as he can lead in the spur of the moment. But we always hold our plans loosely and with humility. Planning is biblical.