Apostolic Planning
Thayer Salsbury
            These thoughts are based on two overlooked verses in Acts 19. Admittedly, these two verses do not say all that much of themselves, but, when we put them together with some things said in the epistles, they are significant. They reveal something of how the mind of Paul worked. They demonstrate a man who was always thinking ahead, always planning, always looking for ways to glorify his Lord.
          The text reads, "Now after these events Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia and go to Jerusalem, saying, 'After I have been there, I must also see Rome.' And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while" (Acts 19:21-22, ESV).
          In worldly terms, the journey planned here seems strange. The route outlined is from Ephesus west to Macedonia and Achaia, then east to Jerusalem, then west again to Rome. To visit these places in this order involved doubling back twice, and several hundred miles of extra travel (as opposed to the most direct route). The reasons for the extra travel are traced in the epistles.
          Plans for benevolence and church unity Paul had plans for a benevolent mission from Macedonia and Achaia to Jerusalem. This mission was planned not only to relieve the suffering of the brothers in Jerusalem, but to promote unity in the church. That is why his route heads west before it turns east. Before beginning his journey, he wrote to the Corinthian church, "Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem" (1 Cor. 16:1-3).
         His travel was not at random, it was well planned to accomplish his purpose. And his purpose went beyond collecting funds. Paul is looking to the spiritual benefit of the entire church. He later wrote to the Corinthians, "I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, 'Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack” (2 Cor 8:13-15).
         The Christians in Macedonia and Achaia, while perhaps not the elite of the world (1 Cor 1:26) were better off than their brothers in Judea. Out of a sense of fairness, they were being asked to share their abundance. Paul had also written to the churches of Galatia (1 Cor 16:1) along the same lines. He told them, "So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Gal 6:10).
         Just as in the first century, it is right that the wealthy Christians of today should be involved in helping those who are less fortunate. This is in keeping with the example of Jesus. As Paul told the Corinthians, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9). Such sharing also has a tendency to unify the church. Failure to share has a tendency to fragment the church. If wealthy Christians fail to share with less fortunate Christians, it begins to appear as if we feel a greater affinity with those who are like us socially than with those who are like us spiritually.
          Such sharing also makes sense in practical terms. The blessings shared with others today may, at some future date, come back to bless us or our children. Again, from 2 Corinthians 8, "your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness" (2 Corinthians 8:14). In saying this, Paul is echoing the thought of Ecclesiastes 11:1-2, "Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth."

          Paul's plans go well beyond the trip to Jerusalem, and well beyond the issues of benevolence and church unity. Paul is also thinking about the expansion of the kingdom into new areas. He is not going to stop at Jerusalem. He plans to move on to Rome as well (Acts 19:21). We know from the book of Romans that the trip to Rome was not an end in itself but a means of reaching Spain, where he hoped to take the gospel. He describes this journey to the Roman brothers in these terms, "But now, since I no longer have any room for work in these regions, and since I have longed for many years to come to you, I hope to see you in passing as I go to Spain, and to be helped on my journey there by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings. When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you" (Romans 15:23-28).
           We need to have plans to extend the borders of the kingdom. We are too narrow in our focus, too pessimistic in our goals. We do not think as far in advance as we ought, we do not think as big as we ought, we do not think as broadly as we ought. Paul made plans for expanding the kingdom into new areas. We ought to think in those terms also.
           We do not know if Paul ever reached Spain. The New Testament never records it, if he did. But just the fact that he thought in these terms is of value. When we desire to do some‑thing like this to the glory of God, it honours God, even if we are not able to complete everything we hope to do. Thinking small, planning little, dishonors God, even if we accomplish the little bit we planned.

Plans for edification and stabilization

          Paul has big plans for his trip, but he also realizes that there are local needs that must be addressed before he leaves Ephesus. He is going to stay on there a little longer (Acts 19:22). He is doing so, he tells the Corinthians, "for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries" (1 Cor 16:9).
          This reminds me of a point Raymond Kelcy used to make to students at Oklahoma Christian. Every year, students from the school would raise money to go on mission trips. Most of these students were sincere; most of them were hard workers in the local congregations. But some of them were nowhere to be found when work needed to be done locally. Yet they claimed that, if someone would pay for them to go to Trinidad or France or Africa, they would really work for the Lord in these distant places.
          As a general rule, those who will not work where they are will not work somewhere else. It is right to move into a new work because we could do more good elsewhere. It is foolish to move into a new area of work when we are not doing what we could be doing in our current location. As Jesus said, "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much" (Lk 16:10). It is good to dream big dreams, it is good to plan great things for God and expect great things of God, but the person who is not working locally is unlikely to work elsewhere. Our plans need to include planning to do God's will right where we are at the moment. Then, if later we are able to move elsewhere to do more, we will be ready.
          John Gipson recently shared these thoughts about the importance of planning. He wrote, The philosopher, Herbert Spencer, once made a confession which many of us could also make. "Up to this date," wrote Spencer at age forty, "my life might fitly have been characterized as miscellaneous."
          It is sad, but that's the way many of us live. "Another day, another dollar." And so we spend our live on things that are not too important. We wait around for the next meal, the weekend, the vacation, the graduation, the marriage, the children, the good job, the new car and house and finally the retirement. And, before we realize it, our life comes to a close—a life of miscellaneous living. Without a true goal. Without a worthy purpose. (John Gipson, Windsong Notes May 2, 2008)
          Our plans do not always work out as we intend, but plans are still important. Even if we have to adjust, at least we have something in mind to adjust in relation to, if we have made plans. But if we fail to plan we have planned to fail.
          We plan all kinds of things (vacations, retirement, birthday parties), but most of us seem to do very little planning of how we will glorify the Lord. This needs to change. Paul made plans, we should too. Paul planned how he would use his life to glorify God, we should too.