Following my previous blog post, I had several people ask questions like, “in light of all the data, where is there room for God to work?” or “isn’t there a lot less risk if you also prayed?” So it begs the question, “Where should we draw the line on the battle between acting in faith, and acting with prudent wisdom?”
I’m thinking about this again as I’m away with several others I work with on a planning retreat. Yesterday we spent several hours reviewing both how we have seen God at work through our ministry, and our plans and goals for the next three years.
Now, to be honest, I would guess that three years ago, very few would have been able to plan for or predict the things we saw God doing this year. Nevertheless, we still have spent considerable time and effort developing a plan that we believe challenges and stretches us, is within “line of sight” (possible to achieve), and gives God considerable room to work.
In the end, I think we usually draw the line between faith and wisdom. The battle becomes one between those who plan and execute, and those who pray and trust God to deliver.
But we have drawn the line in the wrong spot.
Instead, I see faith and wisdom standing shoulder-to-shoulder on the same side of the line. The battle is not one against the other, but wise planning and full dependence on God giving us victory over mediocrity and failure.
Several years ago, pastor Aaron Stern blogged on this topic and came to a similar conclusion, “Living by faith is not about God covering for our sloppy living and lack of planning or holding tight-fisted to our future. It is giving God all our planning and wisdom so that we are able to trust Him as He leads us. Proverbs 16:9 highlights this balance, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
