What's The Problem with Plan B?

When purchasing an item at a local store over the Christmas season a few months ago I was asked whether or not I wanted a gift receipt with my purchase. The thought struck me that if I included a gift receipt with my gift it would be like saying to the person- “I doubt you will really like this anyway, but here, take the credit and go get something you really want.” This is a type of 'plan B' approach to gift giving that also permeates the rest of our society as well.

Take for instance the instant replay - instead of instilling trust in the official on the football field, we’d better check the instant replay just in case.

Not that I think that things like gift receipts and instant replay are necessarily evil, but…
This 'plan B' mentality is also seen in areas of morality as well. “Sure we’d like our kids not to be having sex, but just in case, let’s make sure they’re prepared.” And marriages are doomed to failure before they even begin with plan B prenuptial. What if this doesn’t work out?

When I speak of a 'plan B' mentality, I am not really talking about wise planning - which is something we all ought to do. Rather, I am speaking of a mentality of settling for last resorts.

This subject is faith, and people of faith are not governed by “what if?”. They live life with an intense determination to pursue the will of God, and they let the pieces fall where they may.

They hold on to the promise found in 1 Cor. 1:9
“God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus, is faithful.” They also know the truth of Phil 1:6 that He who began a good work in us will see it through.

When God called me into ministry I dove in head first - and my responsibility is to trust God to work out the details. If this whole ministry gig doesn’t work out I’ll probably be homeless, because I’ve got no plan B, no contingency plan - and I don’t want one.

There are two problems that come to mind about having a plan B approach to life.

The first problem with plan B is that it is selfish (“me-centered”)

When we live with a last resort mentality, We have failed to understand that it isn’t always about us - take the gift idea as an example.

The gift really doesn’t reveal as much about the receiver as it does about the giver. A gift doesn’t therefore indicate the worthiness of the receiver to deserve the gift, but of the benevolence of the giver (This is especially important as we consider the greatest gift ever given - the fact that God gave His only Son Jesus Christ to die in my place doesn’t speak of the fact that I deserved the gift, but it speaks of the fact that God is gracious and kind)

'Plan B' mentality is always self-serving.

But ultimately, the problem with plan B is that it is faithless

John Maxwell once wrote “Every vision dies when the cost gets too high.” He’s right! Just because you and I have good intentions to pursue plan A - that is, the thing we know God wants us to do - doesn’t mean we will. Remember the 10 spies in Numbers 13 and 14? They saw first hand what God had in store for them (they had the vision), but the cost was simply too high - so the vision died. I love Joshua and Caleb's reaction, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are able to overcome it."

The Bible is filled with examples of 'plan A' people - Daniel was one. When the law said he couldn’t worship as he was accustomed to doing, he said - “I’ve got my orders and I’m sticking to them.”

Essentially, God’s character is the basis for a plan 'A' mentality.
Remember 1 Cor. 1:9? He who called us is faithful.

God established a new covenant with us - not a new commitment with us, but a new covenant. You see, commitments shift in their intensity. Sometimes we can be more committed or less committed depending on circumstances. But covenants never flex - you are never less covenanted or more covenanted - you are either in covenant or you’re not!

As we seek to display the faithful character of God in our lives, we become people of resolve, of integrity, of loyalty. 'Plan A' type of people.

Where do you find yourself; a 'plan A' or 'plan B' type of person? If 'B', what are you going to do to try to change your mindset to be a 'plan A' person?