Proverbs 16:2-3
Stop.
Hold your calendar, phone, or weekly planner in your hand. Take a deep breath. Give yourself time to set aside everything that you need to do right now and be fully present with God. Give thanks for all God has given you and the ways you get to serve God through your work, relationships, and responsibilities.
Listen.
All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. – Proverbs 16:2-3
Reflect.
In worship on Sunday, we will hear from the book of Proverbs. The book is wisdom literature, a section of scripture that focuses on teaching and seeing God as the center of all wisdom. Because it is also poetic in structure, you often find repetitive phrases in Proverbs. These mirrored statements reinforce important parts of the scripture to encourage the reader into deeper reflection on the intended learning.
These two verses show just such a parallel structure. Take another look at the two sentences. In a way, they say the same thing: it’s not about what you want to do, but about finding success in following God’s will for your life. The first verse emphasizes our own lack of perspective in our intentions, while the second verse reminds us that we commit all we do to God first.
As we talk about our financial generosity during this sermon series, Proverbs remind us to consider why we give. Do we give to have more power? To feel better about ourselves? To demonstrate our own worth? Or do we give so that God’s work can be done among us? Only one of those reasons seems to “commit your work to the Lord”. We give out of joy and gratitude for all God has done and is doing.
But Proverbs also invites us to consider how we give. We can give spontaneously or when we feel so moved. But better yet, God invites us to give in a planned, considered, regular way. Making a plan for our giving ensures that we’ve reflected on and prayed about how we might be a part of God’s work among us and then works that plan. The wisdom of Proverbs is that our plans are part of God’s wider plan, which is good news indeed.
Pray.
God, I praise your wisdom at work in the world. Thank you for your holy word, showing me how to live and act in the world. Make me generous with my time, action, and money. Let me be a part of your plans at work all around me. Amen.
Carry On.
Take another look at your calendar or planner. Does it reflect your beliefs? What’s one thing you can put on your calendar this week that reflects what you believe, gives your faith room for growth, or leaves time for reflection on God’s action in your life?