Poetry – Proverbs 16

All of us have make plans.

We make plans for our future.  We make plans for our careers.  We make plans for tomorrow.  We make plans for many things.

Some are grand plans.  Some are simple plans.  Some are complicated plans.  Some are just plain bad plans.

We plan to do good.  We plan to break free from our cycle of meaningless tasks.  We plan to be different.  We plan to be the child and servant that our Heavenly Father wants us to be.

But many a times, we find that inspite of all our plans and desires in our heart to do and be better, we are unable to move beyond where we are.  In fact, there are many times where it seems our plans to improve have failed.  We are stuck in a rut…

We think we are making progress and following our plans, and suddenly, we find that we are back where we first started…

These thoughts came to mind as I read today’s passage:

Bible Passage:  Proverbs 16

This chapter in Proverbs calls us to have an obedient heart to the Lord.  It contains many nuggets of wisdom that cannot fail to change us – if only we are obedient to the words.  My challenge to myself, and also to you, is to pick a verse or two and make an effort to live those words in your life this week.

But for now, I would just like to focus on Proverbs 16:1-3.

The preparations 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 spirits.
Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.

Proverbs 16:1-3

Our Plans (Proverbs 16:1)

When I read this verse, I feel a great sense of comfort and regret.

I am also reminded of a phrase that I heard many years ago but seldom hear now … “Man Proposes (plan) but God disposes.” The overall emphasis of this verse is that while we may plan and prepare, the results are in His hands, His authority and His power – not ours.

If you read different translations of the Bible, you will realise that the word ‘plan’ and ‘preparation’ are used to mean the same thing.   It suggests that when we make preparations or plans, we make them based on looking at all the issues, options, responsibilities and consequences in order to compare them so that we can choose the right course.

God has given us minds and we are to use them wisely, but also submissively.

The second part of verse one gave me a problem when I first read it as it does not seem to be related to the first part.

“But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord”.

But as I meditated on it, I realized that the tongue is a symbol of our speech and actions by which we carry out our plans.

You and I may plan to do this and that.  But if we are submissive to follow God’s ways, He is the One who is ultimately going to have the last word.  We may make a great boast, it is at the end, God who established our plans and allow it to be completed.

In fact, Proverbs 16:9 says something similar…

A man’s heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.

The next few verses expands on more principles that are closely related to this subject.  These are things that I’ve come to realize are more important than our plans… And as we make our plans, we should also consider these questions:  “What are our Motives?”, “Who do we Trust?”

What are Our Motives? (Proverbs 16:2)

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the spirits.

Actually, none of us really know our own minds or motives.  Many a times, when we want something badly or want a desired outcome, we can easily deceive ourselves by justifying why and what we are planning and doing.  The Holy Spirit helps us and guides us.  But many a times, the Spirit can be quenched and we can easily behave in ways which stops the couselling of the Holy Spirit.

Very quickly, here are some reasons that I know that I am very guilty of that prevents me from not heeding God’s directions…

Firstly – I am unwillingly to think.  There are many times when faced with issues, my mind goes blank and I do not think things through properly.  Moses’ final words to the Israelites included this verse, “O that they were wise … that they would consider …” (Deuteronomy 32:29).  God – grant me this wisdom to stop and think today.

Secondly, not only am I unwillingly to think… when I do think, I do not think long term.  I do not think ahead and weigh the results of the different courses of action that I may take.  Often, we can only see what is wise and right and what is foolish and wrong as we dwell on its long term issues.  The same encouragement of Moses said… ‘O that they were wise … that they would consider their latter end.’

Thirdly, I am unwilling to take advice.  We had read in Proverbs 12:15 that “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.” The Bible is very clear on this.  We need to take counsel or advice.  But often in our conceit and immaturity, we dispense with taking advice on major decisions.  There are always people who know the Bible more, who has better gifts and blessed with more wisdom whom we can turn to for advice.  While we may not finally accept what they say, it will be good to carefully consider what they say.

Lastly, I an unwilling to wait. “Wait on the Lord” is a constant refrain in the Psalms.  It is a necessary word.  And I must learn to wait on the Lord for Him to lead…

The second part of this verse says that God weighs the spirits.  He weighs our motives, intents and purposes.  The Lord alone has all the facts and is able to judge the purity of our motives and reasons for our plans (cf. 1 Cor 4:4-5).  This is of great comfort as well as a warning.

If we really want to seek God’s plan for our lives and to carry out His will, we can rely on God to work through us to carry out His purposes and direct our loves, inspite of our weaknesses and lack of thinking.  God upholds us with His hand and is willing to order our footsteps … if we let Him (Ps 37:23-24).

Who Do We Trust? (Proverbs 16:3)

“Commit” means “to roll”.

This is a picture of trust.  You ‘roll over’ something to another for management and for them to carry the load.  The idea is that we roll over from ourself (where we have this self trust) unto God so that we are now trusting in Him to deal with all the issues and plans.  And we believe that God is able to handle it because He is … GOD!

God tells us that if we recognize His sovereignty, trust in His goodness, and trust our plans and lives into His keeping, He will guide our steps and establish our plans to bring them about—but in accord with His purposes and His righteousness.

Are we prepared to “roll over” all our plans to God?  Or do we still want to handle things ourselves and see if we are able to pull it off?  I know what I would like to do… the question is whether I trust God enough to let go.

Comfort and Regret

As I mentioned earlier, when I read these verses, I felt a great sense of comfort and regret.

Comfort – because I know that I have a God that I can completely trust in.  And not only that, He is ever willing to take up our burdens, our questions, our difficulties, our anxieties, our… the list just goes on.

Regret – because I know that despite knowing all this, there are many times I slip back into self reliance mode.

I may be saying one thing – but my actions and thoughts show otherwise.  I may write or tell someone that we need to “commit” our works to the Lord and there am I – demanding full control of how the things are to be done.

The words of wisdom are still as relevant today.  May God grant us His grace to live these words of Proverbs in our lives.