How can we ensure our plans align with God's will, unlike Luke 12:18? The Rich Fool’s Misstep Luke 12:18: “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.’” Where He Went Wrong • Self-focused language—five “I” statements in two verses (vv. 17-19) • No mention of God, gratitude, or others • Assumed unlimited time: “Many years” (v. 19) • Security placed in possessions, not the Provider Step 1: Start With Surrender • Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart…He will make your paths straight.” • Daily yield your agenda: “Lord, these are Your hours, not mine.” • Hold calendars and budgets with open hands; ask, “Is this Yours to keep or to change?” Step 2: Seek Scripture Before Strategy • Psalm 119:105—“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • Match every plan against clear commands (honesty, purity, generosity). • If a goal violates Scripture, scrap it; God never contradicts Himself. Step 3: Prioritize the Kingdom • Matthew 6:33—“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” • Filter opportunities: – Will this enlarge Christ’s fame or merely my comfort? – Does it free resources for ministry or hoard them? Step 4: Invite Godly Counsel • Proverbs 15:22—“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” • Share dreams with mature believers who will challenge motives, timing, and stewardship. • Embrace correction as protection, not intrusion. Step 5: Depend on Ongoing Prayer • Philippians 4:6—“In everything, by prayer and petition…present your requests to God.” • Pray before, during, and after decisions; adjust when the Spirit prompts. • Replace anxious planning with thankful expectancy. Step 6: Remember Divine Ownership • Psalm 24:1—“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” • You manage, God owns. Treat assets—time, talents, treasures—as His trust, not your trophy. • Generosity guards against barns-biggering. Step 7: Live With Eternity in View • James 4:13-15—“You do not even know what will happen tomorrow…You ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills…’” • Measure success by eternal return, not immediate reward. • Ask, “Will this matter 10,000 years from now?” Practical Checklist Before Finalizing a Plan □ Have I surrendered this idea to God? □ Does Scripture affirm it? □ Will it advance God’s kingdom priorities? □ Have trusted believers confirmed it? □ Am I praying through each step? □ Does it reflect stewardship, not stockpiling? □ Can I joyfully say, “If the Lord wills”? Plans shaped by these truths move from “my barns, my grain” to “Your kingdom, Your glory,” ensuring alignment with God’s will and avoiding the rich fool’s fatal oversight. |
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