Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the concept of "plans" is deeply intertwined with the divine will and human responsibility. The Bible presents a nuanced view of planning, emphasizing both the sovereignty of God and the importance of human diligence and wisdom.
Divine PlansThe Scriptures affirm that God has sovereign plans that are ultimately for the good of His people and the fulfillment of His purposes.
Jeremiah 29:11 is a well-known verse that encapsulates this idea: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." This verse reassures believers of God's benevolent intentions and His control over the future.
Proverbs 19:21 further highlights the supremacy of God's plans over human intentions: "Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail." This underscores the belief that while humans may devise their own plans, it is ultimately God's purpose that will be accomplished.
Human PlansThe Bible also speaks to the importance of human planning, encouraging believers to act with wisdom and foresight.
Proverbs 16:3 advises, "Commit your works to the LORD, and your plans will be achieved." This suggests that successful planning involves seeking God's guidance and aligning one's plans with His will.
In the New Testament,
James 4:13-15 offers a cautionary perspective on human planning: "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.' You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, 'If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.'" This passage reminds believers of the uncertainty of life and the need to submit their plans to God's will.
Planning and WisdomThe Bible frequently associates planning with wisdom.
Proverbs 21:5 states, "The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty." This verse highlights the value of careful and thoughtful planning as a means to achieve prosperity and avoid the pitfalls of rash decisions.
In the context of building and construction, Jesus uses the metaphor of planning in
Luke 14:28-30: "Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This man could not finish what he started to build.'" This parable illustrates the importance of foresight and preparation in undertaking significant endeavors.
God's Plans for SalvationCentral to the biblical narrative is God's redemptive plan for humanity through Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:9-10 reveals, "And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ." This passage emphasizes that God's ultimate plan is to unite all things under Christ, highlighting the centrality of Jesus in God's salvific purposes.
ConclusionThe biblical teaching on plans encourages believers to trust in God's sovereign purposes while also exercising wisdom and diligence in their own planning. By aligning their plans with God's will and seeking His guidance, believers can navigate the complexities of life with confidence and hope.
Greek
899. bathos -- depth... bath'-os) Short Definition: depth, a depth, a deep Definition: depth; deep water;
met: fullness, immensity; an extreme degree; profundities, deep-laid
plans.
...4401. procheirotoneo -- to appoint beforehand
... in Ac 10:41). 4401 ("God's ") illustrates how ,plans out all the of our
lives before the foundation of the world (cf. Ps 139:16...
Strong's Hebrew
5082. nedibah -- nobility, nobleness... 5081, 5082. nedibah. 5083 . nobility, nobleness. Transliteration: nedibah
Phonetic Spelling: (ned-ee-baw') Short Definition:
plans.
...4633. maarak -- an arrangement
... 4632, 4633. maarak. 4634 . an arrangement. Transliteration: maarak Phonetic
Spelling: (mah-ar-awk') Short Definition:plans. Word...
6098. etsah -- counsel, advice
... advice NASB Word Usage advice (11), consultation (2), counsel (52), counselor*
(1), counselors* (1), counsels (1), designs (1), plan (8),plans (2), purpose (6...
2803. chashab -- to think, account
... 2), execute (1), have (1), impute (1), intend (2), make (2), makers (1), meant
(2), mindful (1), plan (2), planned (3), planning (5),plans (4), plotted (1...
4284. machashabah -- thought, device
... Definition thought, device NASB Word Usage design (1), designs (3), devised (1),
intentions* (1), invented (1), inventive (1), plan (2),plans (14), plot (1...
4941. mishpat -- judgment
... 118), justly (3), kind (1), manner (3), matters of justice (1), mode of life (1),
order (1), ordinance (29), ordinances (79), plan (1),plans (1), practice (1...
2154. zimmah -- a plan, device, wickedness
... Usage acts of lewdness (1), crime (1), devising (1), evil intent (1), immorality
(2), lewd (3), lewdly (1), lewdness (13), lustful crime (1),plans (1), wicked...
5475. sod -- council, counsel
... counsel NASB Word Usage circle (1), company (1), consultation (1), council (5),
fellowship (1), friendship (1), gathering (1), intimate (1),plans (1), secret...
4209. mezimmah -- purpose, discretion, device
... Word Origin from zamam Definition purpose, discretion, device NASB Word Usage devises
evil (1), discretion (5), evil devices (1), intent (1),plans (1), plot (1...
Library
Plans of Marriage
... SAINT AUGUSTIN IVPLANS OF MARRIAGE. But even as he draws nearer the goal, Augustin
would appear, on the contrary, to get farther away from it....
How a Little Study Upset thePlans of a Few Prominent Infidels.
... How a Little Study Upset thePlans of a few Prominent Infidels. It is said
of West, an eminent man, that he was going to take up...
How to Overcome Disappointment
... heart so fully upon the thing they wish to have or do, whatever it may be, that
they make no provision whatever, except to carry out theirplans exactly as...
John Wesley.
... He possessed, in an eminent degree, the power of comprehending at once the general
outlines and the details ofplans, the aggregate and the integrants....
Separated unto the Holy Ghost
... Let me point out to you some of the precious thoughts our passage suggests. First
of all, we see that God has His ownplans with regard to His kingdom....
Unionism in the Ascendency.
... A committee was also appointed to confer with the German Reformed, and to devise
plans for utilizing Franklin College as a theological seminary, in order to...
Blighted Blossoms
... "Ah," thought I, "how like these blighted blossoms are so many of the desires
and hopes andplans of our lives!... How many of ourplans fail!...
Man's Difficulty Concerning Prayer.
... relation to us. It supposes him to have cares andplans and intentions
concerning our part of creation, irrespective of us. What is...
Accession of Cyrus to the Throne.
... of Cyrus."His ambition."Capriciousness of Astyages."Cyrus makes great progress in
mental and personal accomplishments."Harpagus'splans for revenge...
He came to his Own.
... And the dear old woman had to make newplans.... "It's a bit late the night,
Laddie, I'm thinking, to be talking about newplans."....
Thesaurus
Plans (55 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Plans (55 Occurrences).
... (See NIV). Job 17:11 My days are
past, my
plans are broken off, as are the thoughts of my heart.
...Succeed (47 Occurrences)
... desired; to accomplish what is attempted or intended; to have a prosperous issue
or termination; to be successful; as, he succeeded in hisplans; hisplans...
Discomfit (6 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vt) To thwart theplans of; frustrate; disconcert.
2. (vt) To break up and frustrate theplans of; to...
Way (7551 Occurrences)
... Since all of God'splans and purposes tend toward man's salvation, His provisions
to this end are frequently spoken of as His Way, and inasmuch as all of the...
Treasury (25 Occurrences)
... In the reign of David, and in hisplans for the future temple, great prominence
is given to the "treasuries." In 1 Chronicles 26:20; are given the names of...
Architecture
... ARCHITECTURE. ar'-ki-tek-tur: I. GENERAL HISTORY 1.Plans, Estimates and Measuring
2. Old Testament References II.... Theplans vary considerably in proportion....
Planning (8 Occurrences)
Nero
... She how felt secure to carry out theplans for the elevation of her son: Her Nine
Measures for Bringing Him to the Throne (1) She secured his betrothal to...
Macedonia (23 Occurrences)
... During the course of a long stay at Ephesus he laidplans for a 2nd journey through
Macedonia and Achaia, and dispatched two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus...
Zebul (5 Occurrences)
... as this. There seem however to be parallels: (1) Theplans of Abimelech
in 9:34-40 are very similar to those in 9:42;. (2) Judges...
Resources
How can we commit our work to the Lord and have our plans established (Proverbs 16:3)? | GotQuestions.orgDoes God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk 1:5-11)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about setting goals? | GotQuestions.orgPlans: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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