Making good plans
Read Genesis 11:1-9 (especially verse 4), Jeremiah 22:13-17 and James 4:13-17
- What is wrong with the plans of the people in these Bible passages?
We may make many plans in our hearts, but whose plans take priority (Proverbs 19:21) and who needs to build the house if the labour is not to be in vain (Psalm 127:1)?
- How careful have you been to check that your plans are in line with God’s purposes?
- Have you made sure that there is no injustice in what you are doing and no exploitation of others?
We read in Jeremiah 22:16, ‘He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.’
Preparing for the future
Proverbs talks a lot about wisdom, and how providing for the future is a godly characteristic.
Read Proverbs 6:6-8
The ant is given as an example of how work can prevent disaster in the future.
- How can we learn from the example of the ant, and encourage others in the community to contribute to the necessary work that can prevent disaster?
Read Proverbs 21:20
It is considered wise to have stores ready for times of need, and foolish to use up all that you have unless there is no alternative.
- How does this verse help us understand the need to be ready for difficult times?
- What examples can you think of in your situation where this verse is applicable?
Read Proverbs 31:21
This passage tells us about the godly wife. She makes provision for times of need. She does not fear the cold season because she has prepared herself for it.
- What example would we give from our own culture of how a good wife is prepared for the future? Discuss this more widely as a principle for being prepared within the community.
- Are there other passages in the Bible where being ready is praised?
You might like to consider Genesis 41:35-36 and Matthew 25:4.
Careful planning
Read Nehemiah 2:11-20
- What does Nehemiah do first?
- How does he deal with opposition?
Chapter 3 goes into the detail of how different families took responsibility for rebuilding sections of the wall. Read this through and see if you can work out how many different families were involved.
- What are the benefits of delegating work in this way?
Proverbs 16:3 tells us, ‘Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.’
- What does this verse tell us about the link between prayer and planning? Is prayer alone ever enough? Is planning alone enough?
- Do we plan prayerfully in our work?
Nehemiah faced many difficulties from corruption and attempts to kill him. However, he persisted and was eventually successful, as we read in Nehemiah 6:15-16.
Preparations for the temple
Read 1 Chronicles 22:1-19.
David shows us the importance of making good preparations before beginning work.
- WHAT is the action being planned?
- HOW is the work to be carried out? What resources were needed (verses 2-4, 14)?
- WHO is going to carry out the work? What part did David play and why (verse 5)? Who is given the overall responsibility during the construction phase (verse 6)? What kinds of workers were involved (verses 15-16)? Who else does David encourage to help?
- WHERE is the work to be done? 1 Chronicles 21:18 tells us that David was guided by God as to where to build the temple.
- WHEN would the work be done (verses 7-10)?
All the practical details for this project are thoroughly planned: the aim, the site, the materials, the workers, the supervisor, the helpers and the timing.
- Who is really in charge of all this planning for the building of the temple? (See for example, 1 Chronicles 28:19 and 1 Chronicles 29:7-13).
Counting the cost
Read Luke 14:25-33
Jesus here gives us two practical examples of the need to plan thoroughly before beginning a course of action.
- What might happen to the person who begins to build something without properly estimating the cost?
- What could a king do if, having considered the strength of the opposing army, he decides he is unlikely to win the war?
- Have you considered carefully all the costs, such as finance, time and other resources, that will be needed for the work we are considering?
- If our project seems unlikely to succeed after this analysis, do we have any other options?
Jesus uses these examples to warn us that before we begin anything we should consider fully and carefully what it is going to cost us.
- What does Jesus say is the cost of following him and being his disciple? (verses 26, 27, 33)
- What does this mean in our daily lives?
- Do you believe it is a price worth paying?
Assessing our work
The Bible has many examples of occasions when people’s lives and activities are examined, usually for the purpose of strengthening their relationships with God.
Read Genesis 1:31
We are told that, ‘God saw all that he had made and it was very good.’ After working for six days, God looked back at what he had done and saw everything he had made. This was clearly an assessment of his handiwork. Having satisfied himself that all he had made was very good, he rested on the seventh day. The first activity that took place in the world was thus evaluated.
- If God, who is all-powerful, perfect and holy, assessed his work, what does this mean for us who are his followers and children?
- How and how often should we look back at our work?
Read Lamentations 3:40
God’s people are encouraged to examine their ways and test them in order to return to a good relationship with God. The act of examining and testing our ways is essentially evaluation.
- Should Christians, either as individuals or organisations, wait for an outsider to come and examine them? Or is this something we should do for ourselves?
- How may evaluation help us to know whether we are really doing God’s will?
Read 2 Timothy 4:7-8
The apostle Paul was able to say with confidence that he had kept the faith and finished all that God had asked of him.
- Why was he so sure of himself?
- Are you able to look back over your life in such a positive way?
- What is the reward that is in store for us?
Christians need to see evaluation as something positive that we should do ourselves for our own benefit, to help us live our lives in the way God wants us to. It will also help us to avoid making serious mistakes.
Catching the vision
The book of Nehemiah tells how Nehemiah led the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, which had been burnt down by the Babylonians.
Read Nehemiah 1
Here we read about Nehemiah’s calling by God to the task. What does this chapter tell us about:
- Nehemiah’s sensitivity to God’s will?
- Nehemiah’s motivation for the task?
- His attitude as a leader?
- His compassion?
- Nehemiah’s attitude to prayer?
- How does what we have learned about Nehemiah’s vision for the task ahead challenge us in our attitude towards the work we do?
A challenging role
King David had long planned to build a temple for God where the ark of the covenant could rest and where people could come to worship. However, God told him that it would be his son, Solomon, who would build the temple.
Read 1 Chronicles 29:1-20
- How did David demonstrate his devotion to the Lord’s temple?
- In verse 2, David refers to ‘the temple of my God’. What does this tell us about David’s heart?
- Why does surrendering oneself to God lead to generosity and rejoicing?
- In what sense do all your possessions come from God?
- A friend lets you borrow their new bicycle. Would your use and care of it be any different it was your own?
- How would it affect your attitude towards your possessions if you thought of yourself as a steward rather than an owner?
- What plans did David make for the new temple?
Overcoming difficulties
Most groups will at some point face difficult times. If these situations are not handled correctly, members may become discouraged and it will prevent the work going ahead.
Read Nehemiah 4:1-12
- What different types of discouragement do we read about here?
Read Nehemiah 4:13-23
- How does Nehemiah deal with discouragement, spiritually and physically?
- How does he deal with the size of the task? (verses 19-20)
- How does he deal with opposition and threats? (verses 14-15)
The people don’t give up. They work together (verses 16-18) to help one another. They design a system so that they can respond rapidly if one group needs help suddenly (verses 19-20).
They are dedicated to completing the work (verses 21-23).
- How does your group respond when difficulties arise?
- Could you overcome the problems by helping one another more?
- Are you continually seeking God’s guidance, encouragement and wisdom?