God's Law or Chaos

The phrase "where there is no vision" is often used to exhort Christians to have a plan and to set goals for where they (or their church/organization) want to go--"We need a vision for the future." But the text in Proverbs 29:18 where this phrase appears has nothing to do with planning or goal setting. Rather, in this text, the stability, order, and prosperity of nations (and, by application, of individuals, families and churches) is specifically tied to divine revelation. It sets before all men the two alternatives of God's Word and blessing and man's word and anarchy--God's Law or chaos.