Planning for Life

Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

— Solomon (Proverbs 15;22, ESV)

As the new academic year rapidly approaches, once again it is time for those of us in campus missions to reconnect with our student leaders and layout provisional plans for the fall and spring semesters. We take into consideration midterms and final exams, weather trends, holidays, and most importantly the football schedule—lol! We discuss successes and failures from the previous year and opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We invite our faculty and community advisors to join us for the planning process because they bring years of experience, continuity, and wisdom to the table. Resultantly, we benefit from the collective wisdom and insight of those who have gone before us as well as of those who are walking alongside us.

Solomon understood this well. He began his rule relying on the wisdom of his father’s advisors and thrived. He also knew that his plans—whether they were to build the temple or expand the kingdom—were superseded by his Lord’s sovereign will: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, ESV). But of most importance, he knew that he needed to commit his work to the Lord in order to succeed: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3). For this reason, he sought the Lord in prayer and asked for wisdom over power and wealth. Unfortunately, as Solomon gained great power and wealth and sought to appease his many foreign wives, he plans lost there upward and outward focus and become self-indulgent.

The lesson from Solomon’s proverbs and life story is threefold:

1. keep on committing your work to God in prayer;
2. never stop seeking the collective wisdom of other followers of Jesus; and,
3. step out in faith and trust that God has your backside.

This is how we plan for campus ministry, and this is how all of us should plan for life!