Do your part, and God will do his

When the enemy comes against us, it is important that we know what their weapons consist of, and what ours consist of! When David prepares to confront Goliath, he says to him: "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel" (1 Sam 17:45). David was clearly aware of every weapon his opponent possessed. At the same time, he knew specifically what he was counting on, and what the true nature of his own armor was.

As I write these lines, I am deeply involved in the planning process for the construction of a new temple. This is one of the great tasks that I currently face as a pastor, perhaps the greatest challenge that I have undertaken in my entire ministerial career. It is the most ambitious and risky project our congregation has ever undertaken in its history. I am well aware that we are building in one of the times of greatest economic crisis that has been seen in many decades. As a pastor, leader, and administrator, I have to measure exactly what this task entails. I cannot afford too many inaccuracies, because I know that the financial terrain in which I move is terribly treacherous and dangerous, and that even small mistakes will not be forgiven.

In the course of planning, I have retained the services of Christian financial consultants who have given me sober and accurate advice. We have developed a detailed strategy to negotiate with the banks and to be able to clearly and advantageously present our finances to them. I have had to identify the different aspects of this process: There is the multimillion dollar financing that we need to receive from a bank; there is the financial campaign that needs to raise a millionaire sum from the congregation, which we have been planning for months. We have to deal with hiring a construction company suitable for our needs, which is capable of operating within the methodology we want to use. Given the dire financial situation facing the nation, and even the entire world, I am very aware of the emotional state of my congregation, and I know that I must address their very legitimate concerns in a way that directs their gaze to the Almighty God who does not know. shortages or economic downturns, and inspire enough confidence in them to give in a bold and generous way.

In short, I have to be extremely lucid and detailed. While operating from a position of faith, I have to pay close attention to detail. I cannot afford to be careless or superficial in my planning process.

God promises us wisdom and direction in the battles of life. But He also wants us to develop understanding and common sense through the study of His Word. He never completely replaces us, but takes pleasure in working together with us, and alongside us. He wants strong and courageous children, who glorify him with their diligent and sober behavior.

God is honored when His children use the wisdom He has installed within them and wisely analyze the challenges they face each day. The power of God, coupled with the understanding and effort of a man or woman saturated with the principles of His Word, will be more than enough to provide victory in any dilemma we may face.