The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Prov 11:3

There is a way that seems right to a man,

but in the end it leads to death. Prov 14:12

Plans fail for lack of counsel,

but with many advisers they succeed. Prov 15:22

In his heart a man plans his course,

but the LORD determines his steps. Prov 16:9

The plans of the diligent lead to profit

as surely as haste leads to poverty. Prov 21:5

The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but victory rests with the LORD. Prov 21:31

Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Prov 27:1

No doubt you’ve glanced once or twice at an astrologer’s predictions in the newspaper. Even if you felt guilty or silly for doing it, you’d hardly fault yourself for wanting every possible advantage in planning your future. Planning for the future, after all, is a major industry. Hundreds of billions of pounds and dollars ride on the forecasts of economists, investment counselors, analysts of every sort, and even astrologers! Legions of advisors will sell you opinions on what will happen in the near term and long term; whether or not you take their advice, someone else will. And that person’s actions may in turn affect your prosperity, health and happiness.

For all their focus on the here and now, the proverbs keep a canny eye on the future. Many proverbs, in fact, offer wisdom on how to make plans, why to make them, and what we can expect of the best plans we make. Read over the proverbs in this study to begin training for planning your future.

1. How often do you think about and plan for the future?

2. Read the proverbs above. Based on these proverbs, why might your plans for the future go awry?

3. When has one of your plans failed for one of the reasons mentioned in these proverbs?

4. The proverbs insist that character affects the success or failure of the plans a person makes. What character qualities mentioned in Proverbs hinder our efforts to plan for the future?

5. We usually evaluate a plan according to its merits, not on the basis of the character of the planner. Why does a planner’s character make a difference?

6. Proverbs 15:22 specifies many counselors. What do many provide over a few or even one counselor?

7. Proverbs 21:5 says that a good plan by itself is not enough to yield success. Suppose you plan a picnic for a large number of people. Suppose further that you are diligent. How would your actions differ from those of a person who was not diligent?

8. An atheist could profitably apply much of the wisdom we’ve seen in these studies. Yet how do the proverbs in this study also point to a divine dimension in the plans we make (and, indeed, in all wisdom)?

9. How would your planning differ from an atheist’s?

10. Do Proverbs 16:9 and 21:31 encourage or discourage careful planning?

11. Do you think that wise plans invariably succeed?