When Things Don't Go According to Plan

Thinking about Romans 15:22-33.

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For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 

But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen. (Romans 15:22-33)

After discussing his mission work, Paul shares a glimpse into what he hopes to do soon. We also get a transparent look into the kinds of things Paul was concerned about.

Paul hopes to visit the Christians in Rome (Romans 15:22-24).

Paul’s mission work and efforts to preach Christ in areas that had not heard the gospel (Romans 15:19-20), had interrupted his plans and desires to visit the Christians in Rome. Paul may also be referring to the Holy Spirit not allowing him to go into certain places at certain times (Acts 16:6-7).

But now his plans included a future visit to Rome on his way to Spain (Acts 19:21). He hoped to spend some time with the Christians in Rome and to be helped financially by them so he could continue proclaiming the gospel in areas like Spain where there would be few Christians.

Paul’s practice was to be financially supported by established congregations (Philippians 4:10-18), or work with his own hands (Acts 18:1-3), or a combination of the two when he went into an area where the gospel had not been preached.

But first, he must travel to Jerusalem with a contribution (Romans 15:25-29).

Before he could continue with his plans to travel to Spain, Paul had something important he needed to do first.

There had been a great famine throughout the world, that seems to have impacted Judea especially hard (Acts 11:27-30). Paul had been involved early on in helping gather relief for the Christians there.

As he traveled on his missionary trips, he encouraged the mostly Gentile Christians to contribute whatever they could to help their Jewish brethren near Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9). Paul likely hoped this would improve Jewish/Gentile relations in the Lord’s church, but he wasn’t sure how it would go over.

So Paul says he must first take this contribution to Jerusalem, and then he hopes to begin his journey to Spain - which would include a “layover” in Rome.

Paul asks the Christians in Rome to pray for his trip to Jerusalem (Romans 15:30-33).

However, Paul was concerned that things were not going to go smoothly on his trip back to Jerusalem - in fact, he seemed convinced things would not go well for him (Acts 20:22-23).

After writing this letter, the Holy Spirit would communicate through Agabus that Paul would be bound by the Jews at Jerusalem and handed over to the Gentiles (Acts 21:10-14).

So Paul begs the Christians in Rome to “strive together” with him in prayer to God for him. He asked that they pray (1) that he would “be delivered from those in Judea” who did not believe, and (2) that his “service” (the contribution) for Jerusalem would be acceptable to the Christians there. He prayed these things would happen so he could come with joy to Rome by God’s will and be refreshed together with them.

But, that’s not what happened.

We aren’t told how the contribution was received - Acts 21:17 says the brethren received Paul and his group “gladly,” so perhaps the contribution was received the way Paul prayed it would be. But that’s really all the information we have about whether or not the Jewish Christians received the Gentile Christian’s gift the way Paul desired.

But Paul was nearly killed by those Jews who did not believe (Acts 21:27-32). However, his arrest by the Roman soldiers saved his life (Acts 21:33). And ultimately it was this arrest that brought him to Rome several years later (Acts 28:11-16).

So Paul made it to Rome and got to spend time with the Christians there (Acts 28:17-31), but not how he had planned.

We are reminded that things don’t always go according to our plans - and yet, God’s will is accomplished, even during some of the most challenging moments of our lives.

Let’s keep trusting God and submitting to His will, no matter what.