HE'S GOT THE WHOLE PLAN IN HIS HANDS

October 25, 2017

HE'S GOT THE WHOLE PLAN IN HIS HANDS

Proverbs 16:10-20

Alix Emerson

Central Truth

Sin tempts us to make decisions in isolation based on our own “smarts.” But when we give thought to the Lord’s words and trust in Him, His good plan prevails.

Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
(Proverbs 16:20)

10 An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 A just balance and scales are the LORD's;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
14 A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will appease it.
15 In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Whoever gives thought to the word^{1

16:20
Or to a matter} will discover good,
    and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

Footnotes

[1] 16:20 Or to a matter

My biggest sin struggle is control. I get into the most trouble when I start to believe the lie that God is not in control of my life and does not have a plan for me. I can also fall into the temptation to believe that I am smarter than God and that the plans I’ve made for my life are better than His. In moments or seasons when I believe those lies, I make grand plans for my life and stubbornly try to follow them through. But without fail, God always thwarts my plans and reveals both His steadfast love for me and His much more perfect plan.

In the verses preceding and following today's passage, Solomon writes, “The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (16:9), and “[t]here is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death" (16:25). Simply put, when we make plans apart from the Lord, we will not find God’s best. Making decisions by ourselves based on our ego, pride, and “smarts” will not end well. Pride and arrogance destroy relationships and precede our falls (verse 18).

In verse 20, Solomon makes a strong case for heavenly wisdom with these words, “Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.” When we daily devote ourselves to the Lord’s words and instruction, we begin to see situations and choices through His eyes and discover His definition of good.

When we seek the character of God and understand deeply that He is good, just, and wise, we can truly trust His plans and place every aspect of our future with Him. And even when we stumble, fall, and make a mess of our plans, God doesn’t cast us out, but reels us in with abounding, incomprehensible grace.

1. What big (or small) life plans have you made lately that didn’t include God’s wise instruction?

2. Throughout Proverbs, you are instructed to include others in your decision-making. Who is in your biblical community? Do they give you wise counsel? What was the last decision you brought before them?

3. To fully trust in the Lord's plans for your future, what attributes of our Heavenly Father do you need to be reminded of during this time in your life? Why?