Plans that Live Longer Than You

“We may or may not follow that plan, Chris. After all, you’re not even going to be here.”

One of my elders at the University Church of Christ spoke those words in exasperation during my final days there. I had recently accepted another preaching position in another church. I was leaving on good terms. But I wanted to leave in place a preaching schedule for the first six months after my departure. I carefully laid out texts and titles for sermons and then recruited staff members, elders and members to preach them. I had nearly thirty Sundays mapped out for the church so all would go well those first months after I left.

But, as this elder reminded me, none of those plans ultimately mattered. In a few days I would be gone. And my plans for those Sundays might or might not be implemented.

Plans rarely last longer than the planner.

That was my first glimpse into the truth revealed in Ps. 146. The psalm urges us not to “trust in princes” (3). That is, not to trust in an ultimate way in any human leader. Why? Not because they are all bad. This is not a psalm criticizing the character of bad leaders. Some leaders are great. And they put into place great plans. The problem, however, is this: “When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.” (4) The minute a leader leaves–initially by moving, or by changing ministries/departments within a church–and finally by dying, his/her plans die as well. Of course, we can think of exceptions to this rule. Even here at Highland where I preach I can point to ministries or initiatives that still exist today yet which were originally implemented by those who proceeded me. But, for the most part, once a leader leaves, his plans ultimately die.

Plans rarely last longer than the planner.

On the other hand, the psalm states, God “keeps faith forever” (6) and “will reign forever” (10). He is constantly putting his plans into action (vv. 7-9 describes these plans) and these plans remain in play because God never dies, never leaves. For this reason, the psalm urges us to praise the Lord (1,2,10).

Thus, the ultimate task for a leader is not simply to put into place the best plans he/she can. It is to discern God’s plans and to align his/her ministry and congregation with those plans. Strategic planning is replaced with spiritual discernment and spiritual direction. The more our ministries and our congregations are participating in God’s forever plans, the healthier they will be. Because those plans will far outlast even the best of leaders.