Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21
There is a difference between plans and purposes.
A plan is by definition an intention.
It is something that is future oriented because it has not been realized yet. It is what you are intending to do, while not yet knowing the final outcome.
Purpose is the reason that you do something.
It is the “why” to the “what.” Purpose speaks to the internal, heart side of leadership. Planning speaks to the external way in which you hope to accomplish that purpose.
The writer of the Proverbs in the Bible speaks to a leadership reality. A leader can have many plans. Indeed a leader must have many plans because he or she does not know which plans will succeed. But this verse speaks to another reality. A leader is not omniscient and therefore does not know which plans will produce lasting results. This proverb indicates that there is something that is guaranteed to last, the purpose of the Lord. It will stand! The context of this Hebrew word indicates that to “stand” is to continue and to succeed. God’s purpose will remain.
But what is the Lord’s purpose?
What are we, as Christ-centered servant leaders, to plan towards?
Where should our good intentions go?
In John 18:37 Jesus is being interrogated by Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pilate asks Jesus, “Are you a king?” Jesus responds purpose, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Jesus is on His way to the cross. But he clearly states his earthly purpose. To witness to the truth. To witness to the essential nature of his own being. Scripture tells us that Jesus is Creator, Savior, and Redeemer.
For the Christ-centered servant leader this must also be our purpose. We are to point to the truth that is Jesus. We are to make all of our plans, our intentions, to point to the truth. He is our “why.” He is the object of all of our “whats.”
For it is this purpose that will stand.
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