“The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord” (Pro. 16:33).
How could that passage describe our lives any better? We make “To Do” lists day after day and only manage to scratch off an item or two, yet we work or run full tilt 24/7. We plan, and “life” throws us a curve. Long before we grow into our teen years, the fact that we are really not in charge like we would like to be, hits us like a tsunami.
My husband and I were returning by night coach from a lectureship in the Southern part of the state, when suddenly someone shook me awake and said, “We are here at Central Station; we have to get down now because the train must go to the shed for cleaning and repairs.”
Walk?
Now?
I can’t see where I am going; my eyes are so scratchy from long hours without drops to moisten them, I can scarcely focus on anything. I frantically grab a comb from the backpack and try to smooth the stray hairs to keep from shocking others on the platform. The wind outside makes that a vain effort. So I walk, stagger, and then….
Hardly a hundred yards down the platform, I suddenly remembered that my glasses were still in the mesh pocket at one end of my berth. My husband ran back to look for them, but of course they were gone already. There must have been a lesson I needed to learn about being a good steward.
Do we pay lip service to Romans 8:28 where God declares that he is the one working all things together, and then plan like we are the ones who control our destiny and day to day activities. All things in any language leaves out nothing. He makes the same declaration in Ephesians 1:12 where he works all things according to the counsel of his own will. God has created man for his purpose, and works all things together for the good of the ones who know that purpose (Romans 8:28). But how many comfort themselves that God is working for them, and yet have no inkling of the purpose for God making this world?
Again, in Proverbs 16:9, he makes the same declaration – A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Literally, man devises the way he wants to go but it is the Lord who ‘erects’ his steps. No wonder he warns us to acknowledge him in all our ways so that he will make our paths straight (Pro. 3:6). Once again, he challenges us: how can we understand our way if the Lord is the one who is directing our steps (Pro. 20:24). Of course we can give the answer – God’s word can make us to know ourselves as he knows us (1 Cor. 13:12). Without God’s word explaining what is happening, we walk on in darkness like the rest of the world and don’t know at what we stumble (Pro. 4:19).
Man is not in control, but is fully dependent on the Lord to produce anything of eternal value. All else is temporary, a waste of time and a vanity. We do need to acknowledge him in everything we do or plan to do, so that he will erect our steps (Pro. 16:9) and direct our paths (make our paths straight – Pro. 3:6).
–Beth Johnson