“To humans belong the plans of the heart,
but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.
2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
but motives are weighed by the Lord.
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and he will establish your plans.
4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end—
even the wicked for a day of disaster.
9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
”
As I read proverbs 16 this morning my mind kept jumping back to Proverbs 1and Solomon’s stated intention for writing the Proverbs; that we would know what is right, what is just and what is fair.
It seems clear in this chapter that the answer is – the ways of God. It’s the Lord who provides the proper answers of the tongue, who establishes our plans, who works out everything to its proper end. We spend much time planning our ways, setting goals, strategizing for our futures but the Lord establishes our steps.
Solomon concludes the chapter by claiming even the results of rolling of the dice or the flip of a coin are from God!
So then what is our role? How does human agency partner with the will of God? As I try to make decisions based in wisdom, how do I find the ways of the Lord?
I want to follow the guidance of verse 3 and commit everything I do to the Lord, believing He will establish my plans. I don’t think this is telling me to inform the Lord of what I am doing and He will bless it and help it work out for me. Rather, it seems the guidance here is to commit everything, even the making of the plans, to the Lord for it is He who establishes our steps.
It’s really scary to give up control, even to the one I know is Love, whose ways are right, just and fair.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Does it scare you or give you peace to know God is fully engaged in the affairs of man? Do you struggle to give up control? Share your thoughts below.