Why is it that some of our plans work out and some do not? Have you ever considered that they have to pass though God’s approval process first?
God is sovereign over the affairs of the world and the plans of all humanity. Ultimately, only His designs are the ones that indeed move forward, even when He allows the wicked to go ahead and succeed temporarily. Everything must have God’s approval to take place in this world; and this is re-assuring.
Even more personal to us as His People is having our plans line up with His plans. We don’t just want Him to let us go ahead with our plans as if we were heathen. We want our plans to really please God and truly advance His purposes in this world. It is our responsibility to align our motivations and plans accordingly in order for them to be established by Him and used positively for His purposes.
The Process
We are familiar with approval processes. Maybe we have an idea, or a plan, but it needs approval from those in authority. Such a review will usually improve the idea or strengthen the plan. It will also ensure that it fulfills the right purpose and accomplishes what it should. This is common procedure in our workplaces, in our schools, in government, and even with our parents.
Sometimes it can be frustrating and slow; other times it can be helpful, re-assuring, and resourceful. Overall, it is good to have approval from authority and a well run process, so our lives and societies can be lived in an orderly and fair manner.
Proverbs 16:1-3 talks about God’s approval process over all the plans of all people. Certainly, the analogy will break down at some point, but the author of Proverbs would have us consider it anyway because it is helpful for us.
Verse 1 makes it clear that God has, as we might say, “the last word” on any given matter. He gives the “answer” to any particular path of action. This might also be interpreted as Yahweh working in the actual words of people. He let’s spoken what He wants, and He even confounds as people speak. Further, for His own, He leads them in what to say at right time and in right way. We can easily envision, even recall, how such things have come to pass.
Verse 2 tells us that Yahweh is constantly evaluating the motives behind the plans contained in verse 1. Everyone, generally speaking, is self-justifying in their motivations. Sometimes this is trickery, sometimes delusional, other times it is just naïveté. We are complex beings with complex motives, often beyond our own self-understanding.
But, Yahweh sees the truth always, even when people do not see it about themselves or others. He alone is able to weigh the complexities of human thoughts and drives. This is important for us to recognize and pray through for ourselves.
The Confidence
We need not worry then too much about purity of heart, because we do not have it, nor will we ever have such an experience in this life. We all know this and know our need for His continual mercy. We need not worry too much either about our effectiveness, our assessments of situations, or the expected outcomes from our plans. In other words, we are not concerned with self-confidence regarding our motives or our abilities, but having a God-confidence in what we are doing.
We are encouraged to be taught that everything must have God’s approval to take place in this world. As Christians, our goal is not just to push our plans though God’s approval grid. We must continually learn to “commit our work to Yahweh” for Him to establish it. We want our plans to be pleasing to Him, and even advance His purposes for His glory.
God is sovereign over the affairs of the world and the plans of all humanity. Ultimately, only His designs are the ones that indeed move forward, even when He allows the wicked to go ahead and succeed temporarily. Everything must have God’s approval to take place in this world; and this is re-assuring.
Even more personal to us as His People is having our plans line up with His plans. We don’t just want Him to let us go ahead with our plans as if we were heathen. We want our plans to really please God and truly advance His purposes in this world. It is our responsibility to align our motivations and plans accordingly in order for them to be established by Him and used positively for His purposes.
The Process
We are familiar with approval processes. Maybe we have an idea, or a plan, but it needs approval from those in authority. Such a review will usually improve the idea or strengthen the plan. It will also ensure that it fulfills the right purpose and accomplishes what it should. This is common procedure in our workplaces, in our schools, in government, and even with our parents.
Sometimes it can be frustrating and slow; other times it can be helpful, re-assuring, and resourceful. Overall, it is good to have approval from authority and a well run process, so our lives and societies can be lived in an orderly and fair manner.
Proverbs 16:1-3 talks about God’s approval process over all the plans of all people. Certainly, the analogy will break down at some point, but the author of Proverbs would have us consider it anyway because it is helpful for us.
Proverbs 16:1–3 ESV “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.”The Details
Verse 1 makes it clear that God has, as we might say, “the last word” on any given matter. He gives the “answer” to any particular path of action. This might also be interpreted as Yahweh working in the actual words of people. He let’s spoken what He wants, and He even confounds as people speak. Further, for His own, He leads them in what to say at right time and in right way. We can easily envision, even recall, how such things have come to pass.
Verse 2 tells us that Yahweh is constantly evaluating the motives behind the plans contained in verse 1. Everyone, generally speaking, is self-justifying in their motivations. Sometimes this is trickery, sometimes delusional, other times it is just naïveté. We are complex beings with complex motives, often beyond our own self-understanding.
But, Yahweh sees the truth always, even when people do not see it about themselves or others. He alone is able to weigh the complexities of human thoughts and drives. This is important for us to recognize and pray through for ourselves.
Psalms 19:12–13 ESV “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.”
Psalms 139:23–24 ESV “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
1 Corinthians 4:3–5 ESV “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.”Verse 3 provides us as believers the best course of action given the above truths in verses 1 and 2. We should commit (literally “roll”) our plans over to Yahweh willingly at beginning when we make them, and then all way through to their completion. In doing so, He will establish them as they should be. As earlier taught in Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge him [meaning to know and be with Him], and he will make straight your paths.”
The Confidence
We need not worry then too much about purity of heart, because we do not have it, nor will we ever have such an experience in this life. We all know this and know our need for His continual mercy. We need not worry too much either about our effectiveness, our assessments of situations, or the expected outcomes from our plans. In other words, we are not concerned with self-confidence regarding our motives or our abilities, but having a God-confidence in what we are doing.
We are encouraged to be taught that everything must have God’s approval to take place in this world. As Christians, our goal is not just to push our plans though God’s approval grid. We must continually learn to “commit our work to Yahweh” for Him to establish it. We want our plans to be pleasing to Him, and even advance His purposes for His glory.
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