A plan for the future is always a challenge, especially when it deals with money. The former CEO, Alan Schwartz of defunct investment bank Bear Stearns was apparently delusional in March 2008 when he stated that things were going fine with the faltering investment bank:
“Bear Stearns’s balance sheet, liquidity and capital remain strong… Our liquidity position has not changed at all, our balance sheet has not changed at all…
Less than two days after Schwartz spoke these words, Bear Stearns filed for bankruptcy.
How can someone be so off, delusional, and even dense? No wonder nobody wants to trust governmental or business leaders these days. With stuff like this going on, who wants to? When things are going well or when things are going bad there has to be a plan for the future.
Many of us like to think we have a plan, but do we really have a sound plan for our futures?
As I continue to preach about vision at First Baptist Church of Ballston Spa, I’m teaching the congregation the critical aspects of vision, planning, and leadership:
- Leaders do not have the right answers. Leaders ask the right questions. On the surface, this seems like a very unnerving statement, but asking the right questions produces the right answers. Leaders can still have some ideas about planning and vision, but first must ask questions. Jesus asked all sorts of questions: Who do you say I am? What is truth? Who are you looking for? Why are you afraid? These questions led to reflection and understanding.
- Vision comes from God. Most think pastors are responsibility for vision, however from scripture we see that God always provides the vision. Leaders and prophets make sure it happens and the people catch on to the vision.
- Planning includes everyone. Sure the pastor has ideas about planning for vision, but the congregation does as well. The congregation, pastors, and the community can all be flows of information from God. Everyone must be included in the planning process.
- Moving from fear to faith. We become anxious about a lot things in our life. Jeremiah was present with a financial deal in Jeremiah 32. God wanted him to buy property at high prices. The future looked grim for that property’s value because the value of that property was going to fall quickly with the instability of Israel’s future. Jeremiah looked past the economic forecast and trusted God. Moving from fear to faith.
When it comes to plans, we often want to rely solely on ourselves. However, God consistently encourages us to rely on his plans. Sure, God does not want us to be foolhardy, but we cannot think that we can get through this life without some help from the Divine.
Like with the CEO of Bear Sterns, we cannot deny the situation in front us and think everything is status quo. We must seek a deeper trust in God. Jeremiah 32 helps understand the theology of planing. Frank M. Yamada, Director of the Center for Asian American Ministries of McCormick Theological Seminary helps us understand how God can help our future:
Today’s passage reminds us God is invested in the future destiny of humankind. Even when catastrophe was imminent, Jeremiah made an audacious and specific financial act, symbolizing God’s declaration that judgment and destruction would not have the final word.
God wants to invest in your future. Will you let God plan?
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