A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
A man's heart devises his way, yet it is the Lord who directs his steps and governs what befalls him. No human plan or effort can thwart that purpose, even when it is deliberate independence from God and opposition to His purpose. Though men devise many plans, God's counsel shall stand.
Men lack the wisdom to direct their own steps and to shape their future independently. The verse therefore calls them to learn from experience, to recognize human weakness, and to commit their way to God and depend on Him rather than on their own judgment and strength. When they thus depend on Him, He directs their steps and may unfold His plans day by day. They can trust His guidance even when they cannot see where it leads, because He leads them in the way they would choose if they could see the outcome and purpose from the beginning.
God may allow men to follow their own ideas and supposed wisdom, and then leave them to reap disappointment and sorrowful, painful consequences which He does not necessarily cause but which come as what they have sown. He directs steps according to His understanding and loving care, and may block an ambitious plan when it would lead a person to neglect nearby duties or to pursue work for which he is not prepared. Failed plans and withheld desires can thus serve His purposes, prepare a person for better work, and later prove to be blessings. He must guide each step and every change of work, with His will in control rather than human impulse or preference.
The Lord directs where a person's work is to be done, so decisions about workers' posts should be taken to God in prayer and made according to His will rather than human preferences or the mere ability to fill a place. In humble, faithful work without striving for recognition, men can trust God to guide their efforts and bring success in His time. Human plans for gain do not control their outcome, for God may dispose events and frustrate or overrule plans for speculative gain to keep men from ruin and utter ruin. Apparent success in such speculation can become a curse by drawing the speculator and others into spiritual danger. That no human effort can thwart God's purposes holds true of the work of redemption and of Christ's commission to take the gospel to all nations.
A man's heart devises his way, yet it is the Lord who directs his steps and governs what befalls him. No human plan or effort can thwart that purpose, even when it is deliberate independence from God and opposition to His purpose. Though men devise many plans, God's counsel shall stand.
Men lack the wisdom to direct their own steps and to shape their future independently. The verse therefore calls them to learn from experience, to recognize human weakness, and to commit their way to God and depend on Him rather than on their own judgment and strength. When they thus depend on Him, He directs their steps and may unfold His plans day by day. They can trust His guidance even when they cannot see where it leads, because He leads them in the way they would choose if they could see the outcome and purpose from the beginning.
God may allow men to follow their own ideas and supposed wisdom, and then leave them to reap disappointment and sorrowful, painful consequences which He does not necessarily cause but which come as what they have sown. He directs steps according to His understanding and loving care, and may block an ambitious plan when it would lead a person to neglect nearby duties or to pursue work for which he is not prepared. Failed plans and withheld desires can thus serve His purposes, prepare a person for better work, and later prove to be blessings. He must guide each step and every change of work, with His will in control rather than human impulse or preference.
The Lord directs where a person's work is to be done, so decisions about workers' posts should be taken to God in prayer and made according to His will rather than human preferences or the mere ability to fill a place. In humble, faithful work without striving for recognition, men can trust God to guide their efforts and bring success in His time. Human plans for gain do not control their outcome, for God may dispose events and frustrate or overrule plans for speculative gain to keep men from ruin and utter ruin. Apparent success in such speculation can become a curse by drawing the speculator and others into spiritual danger. That no human effort can thwart God's purposes holds true of the work of redemption and of Christ's commission to take the gospel to all nations.