Proverbs 16:9
In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.
Plan, yes, but be prepared to take the steps that God determines. The problem arises when we get so caught up in our plan that we forget to consult with the very God that we're trying to serve. Our plan, conceived with God in mind and for His glory, can in this way become a god.
One of the not so shiny examples of this happens in our churches. We seek God and plan and carry out a very cool ministry and God is glorified, but then something happens. It was such a great success that we decide to do it again, and off we run. Years down the road this ministry that started so purely turns out to be a tradition that no longer gives God glory. We undertake these programs because we've always done it, not because of the benefit that it provides God.
Yes, make plans, but be willing to follow God's leading even if that means abandoning a program that, once upon a time, was a great success. The practical test to apply is to determine the eternal purpose found in every ministry in which we're involved. If a ministry no longer serves to glorify God, then it may be time to abandon, or redirect, it.
Plan and seek God for the placement of your steps.
Lon
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5 comments:
Yes, I got a little winded here!
The scripture says "In [his heart] a man plans his course,..." Few things sadden me more in the body of Christ than listening to people plan their way (their life, ministry, vocation, choosing a mate, etc.) apart from what is in their heart. Do they involve God? Yes, but, what does God have to work with, if there is no plan in their heart? Are you a robot just receiving orders, or are you participating with God as a son or daughter? How many times have we all seen someone fail, give up, or just lose interest because, we say, "their heart just wasn't in it"? Proverbs 4:23 says "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life." Did you catch that? Springs of life.
The second part of the verse says "but the Lord determines his steps." It does not say "but the Lord disqualifies his steps." In fact, the word used here in the Hebrew means "to be set up, be established, be fixed". It is the notion that God will come along side you and establish your work, not brush it aside, or smash it, like some demeaning bully.
Now, I don't want to lose you here. Should we seek counsel? Sure. Should we take it to God in prayer? Absolutely. What I'm driving at is something Lon said, many churches continue programs long after genuine interest has moved on. And let's face it, if you have lost interest in something, how is that now helping anyone? I see so many church programs conceived from people who are so spiritually minded that they are no earthly good. God is practical. Let that sink in for a moment... I have started ministries that were good and useful and glorified God (served people), and then at some point I knew it was time to move on. Inevitably someone still interested would say to me "Lets just do it for another season--I'm sure we'll get some renewed interest!" To which I would reply, "If it looks dead, smells dead, and doesn't move--bury it!" Don't let something that previously had life become a dead idol you drag along. Rather, talk to God about what else is in your heart to do for His people, which ultimately brings glory to Him.
I believe the litmus test for continuing a program/ministry contains, but is not limited to, the following questions.
1. Is my heart still in it? I know a lot of people who continue on, dragging themselves along because they honestly believe if they stop, then the work won't get done. They need to get over themselves; they're not God's only go-to man or woman. We are called to participate; to be fellow laborers--not slaves. How many people have you really helped, when your heart's not in something, and the people you seek to help know it?... If your heart is no longer in something don't see it as the death of something, but the opportunity to birth something new and fresh and needful. New, fresh, and needful--is that the definition for God-inspired?
2. Is what you are doing still generating an interest, or filling a need that you can best fill? This reminds me of the old saying about leading: "If no one is following you, then you're not really leading, you're just going for a walk." Honestly, it's really okay if people lose interest in what was good and needful yesterday, and stop following you today. Don't take it personal. I can be very fickle, and I know it. And, my needs and interests can change from week to week--that's life. I'm organic, not mechanical.
Knowing when to abandon or redirect your plans is not always easy, especially if your sense of self-worth is attached to it. Or if it has become what everyone has expected from you in the past. Think of it this way--I believe a lack of 'interest' in something can be an indicator of fulfillment, or needs met. Let the waning of interest by others in something you have been doing encourage you on some level. It is quite possibly you have fulfilled the heart-mission God had given you for those people. At the very least you have probably built a measure of trust and leadership with those same people now that you may not have previously had.
Guard your heart--and plan.
Amen! Something clicked for me regarding my personal journey as I read your comment. My "ministry" (www.acornministries.com) is all over the map in terms of the variety of services that I provide church leaders. I've often thought that I should "get serious" about one of the activity areas so I could concentrate on it solely. Then I realized that God has given me a burn-out-proofed ministry. I do so many different things that I never get bored! On the other hand, if I "specialized" and only did one activity, I would be bored in a year.
Thanks for the paradigm shift!
Lon
Also, a significant contributing factor to the maintenance of far gone activities in the church is FEAR! We are afraid to let go of a job, an activity, a ministry, a worship style, a building, etc. We're afraid because we don't know what might happen, or we create in our minds a debilitating potential scenario.
Thanks for getting the juices flowing!
Lon
Many moons ago, I worked in a secular position for a public governing body. During my tenure there we saw many good acitvities pop up. WE also saw many pet projects linger on well beyond their natural life. To help us determine when to let go we created a philosophy that applies here as well.
It's a simple process called: Create, develop, nurture and release. Once a need was identified we filled it by creating something new. The event/activity/ministry (call it whatever you want) was then developed through fine tunning. Then, the leader would begin to step down and allow a new leader to emerge from the group. The previous leader would continue in a consultant, nurturing role. But then the previous leader would release the program to the new group. Some groups thrived and continued teh cycle with new leaders every so often. So groups/activities died.
The hardest part was letting go. Knowing that if the event failed or if the group did not step up or if the event wasn't wanted it was all still OK.
That didn't mean personal failure. That meant it was time for something else. All it meant was that particular event was over.
So activities died quietly and some went screaming and kicking. While others are still going almost 10 years later.
The point is I would argue that this create, develop, nurture and release model works for church and personal ministry as well.
Hard to imagine that that has been 10 years already! Great thoughts and application! Thanks! - Lon
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