By: Elizabeth Louis
Does God Have the Whole World in His Hands?
Proverbs 16:1-3 can be summarized into this:
Since the Lord assumes ownership of the disciples initiatives (v1) and He alone can evaluate the purity of the motives behind them (V2), the disciple should commit his planned deeds to the Lord (v3a) to establish them permanently, outlasting the wicked person’s temporary triumphs (v3b).
- Waltke
We humans can make our plans, but God’s will is what determines if they succeed, not our ingenuity. Our responsibility is to plan and make biblically wise decisions, which requires us to seek God’s kingdom and learn His way above our own. It’s easy for humans to justify our choices, thinking we are doing good things when many times there are selfish motives behind our actions and choices.
Thankfully, believers serve a sovereign God who has our backs and can use all things for our good (Romans 8:28). His sovereignty should not scare us or make us uncomfortable, but is meant to diminish our pride and allow us sleep soundly at night knowing that God’s in control — giving us more reason to lean on Him.
Therefore, God is the final determiner of whether our plans succeed or fail. The fact that God is in control is a reality that should cause humble dependence on God as we commit or submit our work to the Lord.
Now, these verses in Proverbs is not meant to discourage planning or wise decision-making, but to help us humbly remember of God’s role in the final outcome. Believers are to put in the effort, while entrusting God with the final outcome, which is why we must always cling to His ways and not our own. The results belong to God, not us, which is why believers are to always give God the glory.
While this is comforting, the question still remains, how do we commit our ways to the Lord?
The big picture looks like this: Pray. Plan. Act. Work. Trust. Depend. Submit.
All while recognizing that even if your plans do not work out as you had hoped, God can use what happened for a deeper, better plan in your life that you may not see. He is far smarter and wiser than we will ever be.
Before putting any plan into action, ask these questions:
- Have I prayerfully consulted God on this plan?
- Is this what He wants or what I want?
- Is this plan in harmony with God’s truth?
- What is my attitude – my real motives – in this plan?
- Is this attitude pleasing to God?
The bottom line is God knows when you do a good thing but for the wrong motives like selfish gain. Many pastors, bible teachers, and Christian influencers encourage ungodly motives that are fueled with hedonism. Remember, God knows your heart so you may as well be honest with yourself so you can put it all on the altar.
Again, how do we commit our ways to the Lord?
How to Commit Your Way to the Lord
Proverbs 16:3 says,
“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed (NLT).”
As believers we are to make real choices. We are free and responsible to make real biblically wise decisions. However, it can be complicated or hard for the human mind to grasp that God’s sovereignty and human responsibility go together and somehow work together, which is why the Bible tells us to embrace both.
The Bible teaches us that both God is in complete control and that we make real choices that really matter and for which we are accountable for. Therefore, let’s first look at how not to commit our ways to the Lord.
There are different ways to fail to commit whatever we do to the Lord. For instance,
- Some people commit their work to the Lord superficially.
- They tell themselves and others the project is being done for the Lord, but in reality they are doing it for themselves. They are blinded by their hedonism and may even idolize themselves. Unfortunately, unconsciously and even to some degree subconsciously they know this but they refuse to consciously admit it to themselves. Ultimately, their selfish ways will hinder them inevitably.
- Others give God initial control of their project…
- The second something goes the wrong way or stops going the way they expected or believe it should go, they take back control, revealing they do not trust God but believe more in their own efforts and self-efficacy.
- Their flesh and emotions get the best of them, you could say.
- Then there are those who commit a task FULLY to God, but they put forth no effort themselves.
- Their wishful and foolish thinking keeps them perplexed, causing them to wonder why they are not succeeding
- They end up chasing a fantasy with destruction and poverty at the end of the rainbow.
It’s easy to fall prey to any of the above ways of thinking. The wise disciple of Christ follows the advice James gives by putting their faith into action (James 2:26) and fully committing their actions to the Lord. What does this look like?
Well it’s a delicate balance or dance where they trust God as if everything depended on Him, while working as if everything depended on themselves. It’s like what Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 3:23-24:
Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve (AMP).
They work as if they were preparing something specifically for the Lord. Think about that. If you love the Lord and want to please the Lord you will not cut corners or half-ass anything, but take your time all while being diligent and focused to do the best job you can possibly do because you are hungry to please the Lord.
Please do not miss the essence of what I am saying. When you fully commit your ways to the Lord and work for the Lord, there is a heart attitude that propels you forward. You’re hungry to please the Lord and meet His standards, not your delusional biased standards (Proverbs 16:2).
Remember, submitting your work to the Lord is doing your absolute best to complete the task with diligence while waiting and trusting in God. That means you are not going to focus on the outcome but maximizing your effort.
Proverbs 16:1-3 are not encouraging you to do your own work and make your own plans and then pray asking God to make them successful. Instead, you are to pray beforehand and allow God’s Word to be the supreme guide as you make your plans, which is why you must put studying and reading the Word of God before anything else (Matthew 6:33). Then you work hard to do your work, submitting all of it to the Lord.
If you’re like me, it’s easy to be paralyzed in fear and unsure of what to do or afraid you will do the wrong thing. But we do not need to be paralyzed by fear. Again, even if you take the wrong step or go the wrong direction, assuming you’re truly seeking God, He will reroute you and redeem your mistakes.
In closing, disciples of Christ can live in peace, recognizing that God’s in control and this truth allows for restful sleep because God’s got this! You’re not in control of your life, so stop fretting like you are — I’m talking to you Type-A individual. After all, God really does have the whole world in His hands.
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