(THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING)
9.00am and 10.30am Sunday 15 August 2004-08-17
Rev Des Botting
Readings: Nehemiah 2:1-9; Luke 14:25-33
You will be familiar with the quote If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. This is the theme for this mornings message about the importance of planning or what was on the blackboard, Do you know where you are going?
Some people take to planning like a duck to water. They like an ordered and structured life and want to know what they are doing from one day to the next. Others find planning more of a challenge and would rather allow things to happen rather than be organised. But whether our preference is one or the other, we still need to make plans in life.
Three reasons why we should plan:
1. God DOES it.
In Jeremiah 29:11 it says For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. [1] Further, in 1 Corinthians 14:33 the Bible says For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. [2] Both these verses tell us very clearly that God plans and that He has a plan and purpose for our lives.
2. God COMMANDS it.
The Bible teaches that, Everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. [3]. Proverbs also contains much practical wisdom about how we should live our lives and planning is an important part of this. Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. [4] We should make plans - counting on God to direct us. [5]
3. It is good STEWARDSHIP
In Gods planning we can see from the Scriptures how He puts people in positions of influence and authority to accomplish His purposes. An example of this is Joseph who was taken to Egypt as a slave, but was raised to a position of authority when God needed to preserve His people in the time of famine. Esther became Queen of Persia at a time when her influence was needed to save the Jewish people when a plot was made to exterminate them. It was Mordecai, her uncle, when he said And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this. [6]
Nehemiah is a further example of this and this morning we are going to consider some of the qualities of Nehemiah that are applicable for every disciple of Jesus.
Nehemiah was the cup-bearer for King Artaxerxes I of Persia. As such he was among the Kings most trusted servants because he tasted the kings wine before the king drank it. He also enjoyed extensive influence with the king and this provided him with the opportunity to plead his case before him.
The Qualities of Discipleship we note in Nehemiah are:
1. COURAGE
It took tremendous courage for Nehemiah to appear before the king looking depressed. This was the first time he had ever done this. This could well have led to his earning the kings disfavour as it was not done to come before the king in this way. But Nehemiah had prayed that king would look favourably upon his request, and so he literally risked his life in allowing his sadness to show through.
Secondly, he showed tremendous courage in what he requested of the king. Thirteen years before the king had issued an edict: I want you to command the people to stop building the city until I give further notice. [7]
So what Nehemiah was asking was for the king to revise his policy concerning Jerusalem. This was a very courageous thing to do. Nehemiah took hope in the last five words of the kings edict, which was, Until I give further notice. He believed that the king might be willing to change his mind. At that particular time there had been rebellions against Persian rule in both Egypt and in the provinces beyond the river, and so it was in the kings interest to have a base loyal to Persia in Jerusalem.
God wants us to show courage in doing what He puts on our hearts to do, even if it does put our lives at risk.
2. GODLINESS
We have already seen that Nehemiah was a man of prayer. Prayer was Nehemiahs first priority, not his last resort. In our reading this morning, Nehemiah gathers up in a flash his prayers of the past four months when the king invites him to say what he wants. I prayed to the God who rules from heaven. [8] We also see Nehemiahs godliness in the fact that he recognises Gods hand in his finding favour with the king. God was good to me, and the king did everything I asked. [9] Nehemiah shows his godliness in the way in which he attributes what transpired to the fact of Gods goodness. This should be a characteristic of every disciple of Jesus.
3. WISDOM
Nehemiah showed great wisdom in both his timing of this request, how he presented it and what he asked for. Herodotus, historian of that time, writes that Persian kings had a custom of showing particular generosity at a certain feast each year. The month Nisan was the first month in the Persian and Jewish year, and this may well have been a special occasion. Nehemiah obviously thought carefully as to when would be the best time to bring this matter before the king. We also note that the queen was present when he made his request and this may well have been because he knew the queen would be supportive of what he was asking. Women had an influential role in the Persian court.
Nehemiah also showed wisdom in how he presented his request. There is no mention of Jerusalem by name, rather Nehemiah says, I answered, Your majesty, I hope you live forever! I feel sad because the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. [10]. Respect of ancestral terms was universal in the near East at that time and so Nehemiah was appealing to personal rather than political reasons for his request. In the light of King Artaxerxes edict against Jerusalem 13 years before, it was wise of Nehemiah not to mention Jerusalem by name.
Nehemiah also showed great wisdom in asking that he be given letters to give to the governors of the provinces of West Euphrates, informing them of a change in the kings policy. These were the governors who had stopped the work at Jerusalem 13 years before.
God has promised to provide us with the wisdom we need. In James it says, If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. [11]
4. EXCELLENCE
Nehemiah showed excellence in his planning. He had thought the matter through thoroughly and had done his homework well. For example, he mentions the name of the person in charge of the royal forest, Asaph. This is a Jewish name and it could well have been that the forest was near to Jerusalem. But this shows that Nehemiah had taken the trouble to find out who the man in charge was. As one reads through this passage of scripture, one cannot help but be impressed that Nehemiah had thought of everything. He had anticipated the questions that the king would ask. He knew what resources he would need for the job. He knew how long it would take. I am sure King Artaxerxes was impressed with the way that Nehemiah had prepared his case.
The G we serve deserves our best. The Scripture says, When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honour God. [12] One of our churchs values is excellence because we believe it both honours God and commends the Gospel. This is a mark of disciples in Jesus.
5. AVAILABILITY
Nehemiah was willing to be part of the answer to this need of Gods people. Nehemiah had a very cushy position at the palace, and yet he was willing to forgo that, return to his home country with all the hardships that would entail, to lead the project of rebuilding the city walls.
With God it is not so much our ability that is important, but our availability to Him. This is true of all Gods servants. It was true of Isaiah in the temple. He said, After this, I heard the Lord ask, Is there anyone I can send? Will someone go for us? [13]. Isaiah said, I will go, send me. It was the same of Mary after the angel had revealed to her that she had been chosen to bear Gods Son. She said, I am the Lords servant! Let it happen as you have said. [14]. Are you available to be used for the Lords purposes.
6. FAITH
Nehemiah believed the job could be done, even although it was a huge task. He believed he could make a difference. Then I told the king, Sir, if its all right with you, please send me back to Judah, so that I can rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried. [15]. God honours faith like this and looks for it in all who honour Jesus.
7. COMPASSION
Nehemiah had the welfare of his people at heart in asking God to do something for His people. God cares for us and wants us to have that kind of compassion that goes beyond selfish interests to seek the well-being of others. God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him. [16] This is why the second most important commandment is to love your neighbour as yourself.
CONCLUSION
Success comes to those who plan. Nehemiah is an excellent example of this. What would it take for us as a congregation to be excellent in our planning, especially in the areas of evangelism and discipleship. As with Nehemiah, this both honours God and promotes the Gospel.
Lets take a few moments to discern what God is saying to us through His Word this morning.
[1] Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
[2] 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NIV)
[3] 1 Corinthians 14:40 (NIV)
[4] Proverbs 4:26 (GNB)
[5] Proverbs 16:9 (LB)
[6] Esther 4:14 (NIV)
[7] Ezra 4:21 (CEV)
[8] Nehemiah 2:4 (CEV)
[9] Nehemiah 2:8
[10] Nehemiah 2:5 (CEV)
[11] James 1:5 (CEV)
[12] 1 Corinthians 10:31 (CEV)
[13] Isaiah 6:8 (CEV)
[14] Luke 1:38 (CEV)
[15] Nehemiah 2:5 (CEV)