Plans and Priorities

A lesson about how to make plans in light of biblical priorities.

As you read this lesson, be sure to hover over the the Bible verses to read them or look them up in your own copy of the Bible. When the Bible passage is longer, you need to click on “more” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.

Introduction

Welcome! The Bible has much to say about this interesting topic. You may find it helpful to invite a mature Christian from your church to study this topic with you. You may have a lot of questions that are not answered here. Maybe there are ideas here that seem hard to understand. Do not get overwhelmed! You can contact us with any questions that you may have. The elders of your local church can help you as well.

Remember that learning the content about this topic is helpful, but knowing the information will not truly change you. For you to benefit fully from this topic, you must…

• Become born-again by securing a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through faith by grace. This information cannot change you until the Holy Spirit of God gives you a new heart that is able to apply it to your life. To begin a personal relationship with God, it is imperative to understand and believe the following:

  • God is separated from you, because He is good, pure, and holy. 1 John 1:5-6

  • You are sinful, impure, and unholy because you do not measure up to God’s holiness. Romans 3:10-12 You are a descendent of Adam and Eve who rebelled against God. Romans 5:19

  • Your sinfulness provokes God’s anger and separates you from Him because He is holy. Romans 5:12 As a result, you deserve to be thrown into the Lake of Fire forever. Revelation 20:14-15

  • God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. Jesus is God in the flesh. He lived a sinless life. He was nailed to the cross, shed His blood, and died in your place for your sins. He was buried, rose again, and went to Heaven to prepare a place for all who believe. He will return one day for those who believe. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

  • Only the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is enough for you to be accepted forever by God the Father the moment you believe. John 3:16 God does not accept you on the basis that you try to be a good person and do good works. Romans 4:5 He accepts you fully and forever the moment you abandon your sins and call on Jesus to save you. John 3:36

• As you understand, meditate on, and believe the information presented here about this topic, you must also do what the Bible says. James 1:21-22 Only by trusting and obeying God’s Word regarding this topic will you experience the full benefits of this information. James 1:23-24 Trusting and obeying God’s Word will change you as you learn this. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 You will be happy as a result of your obedience. James 1:25

• Seek and heed the advice of your church leaders regarding this topic. Hebrews 13:17

• Depend upon the Holy Spirit to change you. Galatians 3:1-3 You cannot change without Him enabling you. John 15:5 He will change you in His time and way; but not apart from your faith and obedience to God’s Word. Trust Him to do His work in your heart. Philippians 2:12-13

• Allow the joy that you experience from obeying God’s Word to transform how you interact with others. James 2:12-20

Our Values

Whatever we actually treasure in our hearts will determine where we focus our time, money, and other resources. If we want to know where our hearts are truly invested, then we must look at where we are investing our energy. Only our investments for Christ and eternity will last. Matthew 6:19-24

Plans

• God guides all of our steps. When we make obedience to God a priority, He establishes our steps and holds our hand as He leads us to do whatever He wants us to do. Psalm 37:23-24; Proverbs 4:10-19; Proverbs 16:3; Job 34:21

• We must plan according to the priorities that God has for us. Proverbs 4:25-27

• If our plans agree with biblical principles and commands, then we are free to choose whatever course we desire for His glory and our good as we trust Him to direct our paths. Proverbs 3:5-10 God will lead us to the right options in the matters of our lives.

• We must analyze our plans and priorities regularly to see if they match God’s. We must not act hastily; but we must work diligently. Proverbs 14:14-16; Proverbs 20:25; Proverbs 21:5; Proverbs 24:10; James 4:13-17

  • We must ask our leaders to help us evaluate our plans and priorities. Proverbs 15:22; Proverbs 20:18

  • Only God’s plans for our lives will stand. Proverbs 19:20-21; Proverbs 20:24; Jeremiah 10:23-24

• God hates it when we make plans to disobey Him. Proverbs 6:16-18

  • God frustrates the plans of those who are plotting to do wrong. Only what God allows to happen takes place. Job 5:12; Psalm 33:10-11

  • God will not bless our efforts to fulfill our plans of doing evil. Proverbs 12:2-3; Proverbs 12:5; Proverbs 14:12; Proverbs 15:25-27; Proverbs 24:1-9; Isaiah 29:15-16; Isaiah 32:5-8

Priorities

We must prioritize the following:

• Enjoying life… Ecclesiastes 5:18

  • With our wives. Ecclesiastes 9:7-10

• Our marriage, parenting, and work. Colossians 3:18-25

• Our health. 1 Timothy 4:7-10

• Our close relatives. 1 Timothy 5:7-8

• Seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness by… Matthew 6:33-34; John 12:25-26; Colossians 3:1-4

  • Loving and following Christ. Matthew 10:34-39; Luke 9:57-62; Luke 14:25-35

  • Fearing God and keeping His commandments. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

  • Doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. Micah 6:8

  • Loving God and our neighbor. Matthew 22:37-40

  • Representing Christ well and sharing the Gospel with everyone. 1 Corinthians 9:19-27; 1 Corinthians 10:31-33

  • Making disciples as we share the Gospel. Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:18-20; Philippians 1:21-30

  • Attending and serving actively in a local church. Hebrews 10:23-25

  • Praying for the lost. 1 Timothy 2:1-6

  • Pursuing sanctification and seeking peace with all people. Hebrews 12:14

aDDITIONAL tHOUGHTS

• How do your plans match God’s priorities?

  • What would your friends and relatives say? Ask them.

• Do you live according to a schedule?

• Do you live according to how you feel?

• Do you live according to wisdom?

• Do you live according to the Spirit’s leading?

• Do you leave room for God to change or delay your plans?

• Take a moment and write down all your activities throughout the week. List them from the greatest amount of time to the least. If this was all the evidence you had, what does this say about your heart? Matthew 6:9-21 Where is most of your time going?

  • How are you being faithful with the time that you have, so that God can use it to advance His Kingdom work and represent His name?

  • How are you deliberately planning the spiritual, emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing of yourself and your family?

• Evaluate your entertainment.

  • Is entertainment good or bad?

  • Is your entertainment a priority to God?

  • Is your entertainment a priority to you?

  • Does it provoke you to sin?

  • Does it encourage you?

  • Are you learning sinful habits or evil thought patterns from it?

  • At what point is entertainment sinful?

  • What should you find entertaining?

    • Would you be comfortable viewing or listening to it if it was an actual real-life event happening right in front of you?

    • How should your entertainment compare with what an unbeliever finds entertaining? 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; Romans 12:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17

    • Can you enjoy your entertainment with a clear conscience and full faith? Romans 14:22-23

    • Might it be wise to restrain yourself from certain forms of entertainment so as not to make another brother or sister in Christ stumble? 1 Corinthians 8:8-13

    • Are you unnecessarily withholding yourself from certain forms of entertainment due to extra-biblical standards? Titus 1:15-16; Colossians 2:20-23; Ecclesiastes 7:15-18

  • How often and for how long do you entertain yourself? Is it a reasonable amount of time?

  • What are you willing to sacrifice in order to be entertained?

  • What entertainment are you willing to forfeit so that you can glorify God better?

• Evaluate how you can accomplish God’s goals biblically throughout the next five years.

  • Determine annual, monthly, and weekly goals.

  • Reevaluate these goals each month and each year.

  • Establish a weekly schedule in light of these goals.

  • Do not allow your schedule to rob you of enjoyment in life.

REPRESENTING CHRIST BY Planning and Prioritizing for God’s Glory

• We do not exist simply to live for ourselves. We were created to represent God.

• When we plan and prioritize for God’s glory, it is not primarily about us. It is about God being represented well. His reputation is on the line, because we represent Him.

• Because God wants us to enjoy fellowship with Him, we must demonstrate its importance by maintaining plans and priorities that glorify Him.

• If we do not prioritize God’s glory, then we will not become more like Christ, and we will misrepresent Him.

• When we share the Gospel, it shines a light on our lives. If we are not planning and prioritizing for God’s glory, then we will be tempted to shrink back from sharing the Gospel.

• When we have done everything we can to plan and prioritize for God’s glory, it gives us boldness in our faith. This courage will enable us to be transparent with anyone. In turn, this confidence will enable us freely to let other believers into our lives to disciple them.

• We must let the reputation of God and His love for people motivate us to grow in our ability to plan and prioritize for God’s glory.

• The love of Christ is enough to motivate us to prioritize planning for God’s glory.

Conclusion

Now that you have studied this topic, we encourage you to...

• Ask us or any of your church leaders about any questions or concerns you still have about this topic.

• Pray for yourself to grow in maturity regarding this topic.

• Do your best to practice what you have learned.

• Tell someone else about what you have studied.

• Ask one of your church leaders to help you overcome your weaknesses regarding this topic.

• Teach this subject to others.

• Consider reviewing this topic once each year.

• Commit to growing in this area together with other members of a local church.

• Trust the Holy Spirit to change you as He uses His Word, others, and circumstances to make you more like Christ.