It is not wrong to make plans for tomorrow or even for months ahead. Paul’s letter to Rome shows just how far ahead he had planned his life. As he was collecting the funds from the Gentile churches, he reveals his plan. It involved: (1) finishing gathering the funds; (2) making sure they were safely delivered to the church in Jerusalem; (3) delivering the gifts in such a way they would be accepted; (4) arriving in Rome for a visit with that church; (5) and, having been encouraged by the Romans and receiving help from them, to take the gospel to Spain where the church did not exist (Rom. 15:22; 1:12).
So how did all this turn out? The funds were gathered and delivered to the saints, but the rest of this plan simply did not happen. Notice his words in verse 31, “…that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe.” As he continued his journey, God used prophets in every city as he visited them to continually reveal what lay ahead. “And see, now, I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the thing that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me” (Acts 20:22-23). Yet, he still made plans to visit both Rome and Spain. It is not wrong to make plans for our lives, but there is one matter to be remembered.
Paul even mentions this one thing in his letter. He said, “That I may come to you with joy by the will of God.” He said, “by the will of God.” Think of Jesus in Gethsemane. He prayed about the future, knowing that there was no way to escape the cross. In every prayer there He said, “Not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).
See that important exception in James chapter four. He does not say we should never say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit.” This planning ahead was not wrong. What should we say? “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this…” (Jas. 4:13, 15).
There is no master plan, which we sometimes think when we say, “if the Lord wills.” His master plan for Jesus was fixed, but such a plan does not exist for us. His master plan is to use you in such a way to help you grow in Christ and arrive in heaven. We have the freedom to make choices as to where and how He uses us. However, as we make plans of any kind, our hearts need to remember to make those plans realizing that we really do not know what awaits on the morrow.
Making plans is not wrong. The Bible is filled with examples of those who did this. Making plans and leaving God out is wrong.