by Kevin Burton
Did you ever go to God for a business loan?
Well God’s blessings are for keeps, so it wouldn’t be a loan. But you know what I mean. Ever take your plan to God to get His endorsement?
So it’s like saying to God, “Father, I read here in Psalm 127:1 (NKJV) that ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.’”
“I read that and my mind goes to if the Lord builds the house, nobody can approach it to tear it down and if the Lord guards the city, forget about trying to harm it.”
“Who wouldn’t want that kind of power in his life and behind his projects? That’s why I am here with my plan, to get Your endorsement.”
Then you spell out your life and your future as you would a business plan to a banker. What is God going to say to you?
“Give Me your business.”
“Yes, of course,” you say, “that’s why I’m here. So You see here, these are my strengths and the obstacles I am facing, and the key element as I see it is…”
“No, give Me your business.”
In this silly made-up scenario, you’re sitting there, clutching your paperwork, fists holding tight to it. You hadn’t realized how tightly you had been holding your plan.
It finally dawns on you that God is not considering your plan for endorsement or rejection. He’s asking you to let Him reshape the plan as He sees fit, remake it entirely if need be.
At this point, are you sorry you came to God for a business loan? Would you rather try to jam your plans through in your own strength, with the wits and resources at your disposal?
There are huge sections of the Old Testament where you can read about people knowing God, witnessing first hand His power and miracles, and then over time, drifting back to self-sufficiency.
I don’t know about you, but I can sit in my recliner downstairs, read those stories, shake my head in amazement at how foolish the people were, get up from my recliner, and do the same thing!
Do you know of any Old Testament stories where man’s way worked out better than God’s way?
So why are we clutching our business plans so tightly before God?
Salvation through Jesus is about realizing your helpless state as a sinner before a holy God and believing that Jesus, the Son of God, paid the price you could never pay, for your redemption (Romans 3:21-25) and putting your faith in Him.
Now you are in Christ. In the NKJV, 2 Cor. 5:17 reads “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
But you are also still on the earth and now fighting against the sin nature you were born with.
For me, a lot of what follows is a driver’s seat thing. Whose agenda am I pursuing today?
If I fail to get quiet and come to God in prayer, over time I will slip back into the default mode of self-sufficiency. I need to be reminded who is driving this metaphorical car, this life?
Who owns your business plan? Who owns your future? Who owns you? That fundamental question is settled in fact. But it needs to be settled in your heart and mine.
So let’s finish the business meeting.
You have now handed your business plan over to God. He has smoothed out the wrinkles and set His version in motion.
Coming from the loving God who made you, do you not believe this plan will contain at least some elements of your desires, your plan?
Parents, you don’t let your children eat candy nonstop, but don’t you give them what they like when you can and it’s appropriate? Do you think God won’t do the same?
Turn to Psalm 37: 3-5 (NKJC) and ask King David.
“Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commityour way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
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