As entrepreneurial leaders, planning is a key responsibility.

As disciples of Jesus, we know that God ultimately plans and guides our entrepreneurial endeavors.

The interaction of these two truths is beautifully illustrated in the biblical account of David’s commissioning of his son Solomon to build the temple of God (1 Chronicles 28-29). In our most recent edition of M3 Weekly, we introduced the four gems of leadership wisdom in this account, related to four key aspects of entrepreneurial endeavors: the Person, the Plan, the People, and the Provision.

This week we explore the plan for the temple that David gives to Solomon 1.

In these verses, David provides plans for all the details of the temple – the porch, its buildings, storehouses, rooms, and courts, as well as weights for utensils, lampstands, tables, and the altar. David says that “the LORD made me understand in writing by His hand upon me, all the details of this pattern.”2 Out of his own relationship with God, David received all these specific plans.

Our God is a planner. For instance:

• He gave Moses his plans for the first tabernacle 3.
• He knows the plans he has for us, plans to prosper us and not harm us, plans to give us hope and a future4.
• The Psalmist says that “the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations”5.
• God reveals his plans to his servants 6.

Furthermore, Jesus knew and followed the Father’s plans. In John 5:19-20, he says, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.” Jesus followed God’s plans out of an abiding relationship with the Father. As Jesus said, “the Father abiding in me does His works.” 7

As fellow workers with God 8, God welcomes our planning. Paul prays for the Thessalonians 9:

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.

Proverbs 16 is instructive for us in our desire to plan and live out God’s plans. Verses 1-3, in The Passion Translation, declare:

Go ahead and make all the plans you want, but it’s the Lord who will ultimately direct your steps.

We are all in love with our own opinions, convinced they’re correct. But the Lord is in the midst of us, testing and probing our every motive.

Before you do anything, put your trust totally in God and not in yourself. Then every plan you make will succeed.

We can go ahead and make plans. But God promises success only when we have good motives, we’re surrendered to God to direct our steps, and we trust totally in him.

Questions for self-reflection:

• What are the plans God has given you for your business?
• How do you hear from God about what His plans are for you?
• To whom do you go for counsel and advice?
• What role does your team play in discerning God’s plans?

Verse(s) of the Week:

Read Proverbs 16:1-3 out of your favorite translation. Even better, read out of a few different translations, and meditate on the significance of God’s plans and our plans for the enterprise he has entrusted to you to lead.