Comment: Planning for the future is a holistic endeavour and should primarily include conscious efforts to gain eternal life in God’s Kingdom when fully established. God Almighty made a promise of a perfect system of things to replace the old order that was polluted at the instance of the enemy Satan the devil. – Isaiah 65:17, compare 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1-4 etc.
Salvation which is the target of every believer is the ultimate reward from God Almighty to anyone who continues in the race of salvation abiding to the set rules till the end. See Romans 6:23, 1 Peter 1:9,10, Psalm 3:8; 68:20 etc. It is in this vein, that St Paul, writing to the Philippian Christians enjoined them to continue in the true faith and practice of righteousness, obeying God’s instructions even in his absence, thereby working out their own salvation “with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12) Gaining eternal life or salvation requires conscious effort in planning one’s life to make positive sacrifice in the service of God and humanity. It entails overcoming distractions, trials and temptations, while worshipping God in truth unto the end. Jesus Christ stated: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.” – Matthew 24:12,13