Developing a financial plan might seem very carnal and unspiritual. Some of us might even react to it because there are many people who are not Christians that are making financial plans. However, we must realize that there are times that the Lord asks us to do things that look a lot like how the rest of the world is doing. A case in point is the Old Testament sacrifices that were required of the children of Israel. Though they were unique in some ways and done in the name of Jehovah, the truth is that to the objective observer they were a bloody mess that looked a lot like many of the pagan rituals practiced in that day.

We must be secure enough to do what the Lord is asking us to do. It could be radically different—like spitting in someone’s eye to the heal them. Or, it could look just like what everyone else is doing—Jesus getting baptized in the Jordan with many others.

A closer examination of the scriptures shows us that many in the Bible had a financial plan. Joseph had a plan. Jacob had a plan. Poverty minded people have a difficult time setting goals or verbalizing their plans for the future. Can we move in the opposite spirit of this? Yes, we should live like the Lord Jesus might return tomorrow, but we should plan like he won’t return for 40 years.

When we write a financial plan, it forces us into the discipline of thinking long term instead of short term. Planning can be one of our greatest skills. Many Christians think that planning is contrary to God’s nature; however nothing could be further from the truth. In Isaiah, we find the Lord talking about his plan.

…what I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do

(Isaiah 46: 11) 

So God has a plan and we are not supposed to…I don’t think so. Is God’s plan completely scripted and unchangeable? No. I believe his plan has some variables built into it. It has to because he is working with us. But it is still a plan. Hey…this works for me. The scriptures state that the plans of the diligent lead to prosperity:

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty

(Proverbs 21:5)

Bring it on!