I am one of the non-planners of the world. I convinced myself I was a free spirit—an artiste. I couldn’t box my creative self in by something as mundane as plans. I smugly told myself that I didn’t need to make plans, because I had faith.
This year, for the first time in my life, I have a written budget. A realistic written budget. I’ve attempted this before, but my previous budgets were only workable if we never bought clothes and traveled back to 1999 to buy gas.
This time was different. We have always managed to live within our means (thank You, God!), but too much money was being swallowed up by that convenient “miscellaneous” category. It was time to honestly track where our money was going. The exercise was both exhilarating and sobering.
How about you? Are you a planner or a non-planner—and which one would you say is the control freak?
I’d have to say . . . both.
The book of Proverbs urges us to work hard, sow our fields, and trust God to send the rain. Both the planner and the non-planner must take note of this and learn.
The planner needs to realize that even the most careful plans will fail without God’s blessing. Regardless of how diligently the farmer sows the seed, only God can send the rain. The loveliest schedule and budget can be blown to bits in a heartbeat. Even the ability to think and plan is a gift from God.
The non-planner, however, has to be careful not to presume on God’s grace. If I’m being lazy and undisciplined, relabeling it as creativity won’t make it any better. God is able to bail me out of any crisis, big or small, but Scripture also tells me to be a good steward of His gifts.
Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying you need to account for every penny or second of your day. Nor am I saying to burn your calendar and budget in the fireplace and start living in the moment. What I am saying is to examine your heart, and make sure—whether you’re a planner or a free spirit—that you surrender your time and your money to God.
So, which one are you, and how do you see your natural bent helping or hindering you in serving God?
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