February 15 - Faith and Planning

In a few short years our girls will, hopefully, be through with college, and the cost of their education will be behind us. After making some financial blunders earlier in life, we've been burning the candle at both ends for several years to catch up, and although it is a joy and privilege to invest in their lives in this manner, the thought of throttling back and relaxing when it is over is very appealing. One way to live a more relaxed, enjoyable life would be to continue to work from home at a slower pace during the cooler months, and to spend the summer in the mountains to escape the heat-become a snowbird in reverse.

In researching and planning possible ways to make this and other possible scenarios happen, I sometimes lose sight of the fact that God owns me. He has already planned my life in infinite detail, and everything that happens, good and bad, is designed for my good (Romans 8:28). Planning is not sinful in and of itself. God gave us the ability to make wise decisions that will have positive effects on our future including saving and investing, buying insurance, educating ourselves and our children, and planning for retirement. We need to submit all of our plans to God through earnest prayer and willingness to submit to His leading. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." I believe that, like most Christians, one of my deepest struggles is between my flesh that wants to own the rights to govern myself, and fighting against the inner man who delights in the fact that God owns me. (Romans 7, loosely interpreted). One area where that struggle surfaces for me is in retirement planning.

Stewardship means God owns us and our stuff, but He has given us the responsibility to take care of it with His help and guidance to get the most return on it for the Kingdom. His goal is not to take all the enjoyment out of life, but to put the most joy into life. God's plan is to bless us in ways that are so great we cannot imagine them. Let us keep focusing on that and let go of the death grip we have on our own plans.

- Steve Milton