Paul's Ministry ManualSample

Planning for the Future

You may have heard the joke, “Do you know why we plan for the future?” “No, why?” “Because we can’t plan for the past.” Of course, it’s no great loss if you haven’t heard that joke, but there is a kernel of truth in it. 

The Apostle Paul was a planner. In the broad scope of his ministry, he had a clear goal, “It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation” (Rom. 15:20). And he had a plan to meet that goal. 

Sometimes in the course of following his plan he received direction from the Lord (Acts 16:6-9). On other occasions he apparently decided to preach in strategic cities in a particular area. On one occasion he was held in Galatia by an illness and took the opportunity to preach there (Gal. 4:13). The apostle lived with confidence that behind the scenes God was directing his movements. He made plans, but when his plans were thwarted or something redirected his movements, his mission carried on.

During his correspondence with the Corinthians, Paul was in Ephesus on the east side of the Aegean Sea. Corinth is on the west side, so Paul had two options for visiting Corinth: travel around the Aegean by land or cross by sea. He had initially told the Corinthians that he would visit them after he had travelled by land through Macedonia (1 Cor. 16:5). Then he had said he would visit Corinth by sea before visiting Macedonia (2 Cor. 1:15). And now he has changed his plans again (2 Cor. 1:23-2:1). Paul may have seemed either confused or untrustworthy. Surely some in Corinth would misunderstand. Paul addresses this in 2 Cor. 1:15-24, where he writes in v. 17, “You may be asking why I changed my plan. Do you think I make my plans carelessly?” 

How do you respond when plans change? They may be your plans that change or someone else’s plans that affect you. If your plans change, that does not mean you were out of God’s will in the first place or that they were bad plans. It may simply mean that life is complicated and we can’t see the future. 

If someone else’s plans change and disappoint you or frustrate you, how do you react? Do you immediately think the worst of that person, or are you willing to consider the best option? Some people are fickle and inconsiderate, and sometimes we may need to confront them with love in order to encourage them to be more considerate. However, their attitudes and actions are ultimately their responsibility. Our own attitudes and actions are what we have to answer for. When plans change, can we be flexible and considerate of others?

Prayer: Lord, teach me to rest in You. Help me to trust and obey. Let me be aware of how my plans and the changes in my plans affect others, and give me a heart of love to consider this and communicate my concern. When others change their plans and it affects me, give me the grace not to immediately pass harsh judgment on them but to react with grace.