THE IMPORTANCE OF PLANNING AHEAD

GAL. 6:6-9

Pastor Rick Jackson

Amos 4:12 ... prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

What is the underlying theme of these verses and many more like them? From both a positive standpoint and a negative one these verses teach the importance of planning ahead. Planning ahead involves some thought, some preparation, some activity but the rewards are generally well worth it. The Scriptures make it clear that a lack of planning ahead is careless, foolish and can even be damning.

Think first of all,

I. GOD HAS PLANNED AHEAD!

1. Before there was the World there was the Word!

Psalm 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

2. Before there was a Sinner there was a Saviour!

1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Revelation 13:8 ...the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

3. Before there was a Punishment there was a Promise!

Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

II. MEN SOMETIMES PLAN AHEAD

1. For Business

James 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain

2. For Retirement

Luke 12:16-19 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

3. For Life's Challenges

Luke 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luke 14:31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

But my friend whether you plan ahead for business, pleasure or life's challenges or not there are three things for which you should definitely plan ahead and that brings us to our third point:

III. ALL SHOULD PLAN AHEAD

1. For the Soul's Redemption!

Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 Corinthians 6:2 ...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2. For the Seeker's Request!

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

3. For the Saviour's Return!

Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

1 John 2;28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming