Setting Goals According To God's Purpose

"Today's Devotion" For October 3, 2005

Read: James 3:12-18; 4:13-17; Philippians 2:1-11

SETTING GOALS ACCORDING TO GOD'S PURPOSE

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Phil. 2:3-4)

Are you a goal setter? Do you have a list of personal and/or professional goals which you review and update on a regular basis? Setting goals is a longstanding "hot topic" in self-help circles as well as corporate America. Businesses are always setting goal for expansion, increased revenue, and product enhancement, among other things. People are setting personal, family, and professional goals. Certainly great stock is put in the saying, "If you don't set goals you won't know when you've arrived at your destination." While all this goal setting can be a good thing, it can also put us in conflict with the things of God and His purposes for us. Because goal setting, as it is taught in our society, focuses on what we want to accomplish, what we want to obtain, what we want to do, and what we want to be - perhaps there are even more "we wants"? - it's very easy to forget that the end result is still up to the Will and purpose of God. It's too easy for people to assume that setting goals puts them in control of their future and this assumption stands in direct conflict with God's Word as noted by James - "you do not even know what is going to happen tomorrow" (James 4:14).

With all these thoughts in mind, are we then saying that goal setting or planning ahead is contrary to God's Will and purpose for our lives? If so, then if we plan for the future and set goals for accomplishment aren't we, therefore, engaged in an exercise of the highest arrogance? Are we then putting our sinful pride ahead of God's Will? These are questions worth wrestling with because in by such wrestling the Holy Spirit is able to show us how goal setting and planning for the future are able to be done in a way that is pleasing to God and in keeping with His purpose and Will for our lives.

The key to goal setting that is obedient to God's Will and purpose for our lives and the world is the attitude and condition of our hearts toward Him. As the redeemed children of God in Jesus Christ, James points out that even though we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow - which, by extension means we won't have any control over the events of the day either - we need to remind ourselves that, "If it is the Lord's Will, we will live and do this or that" (James 4:15). Goal setting and planning for the future is always and only dependent upon God's Will and purpose for our lives. Thus, for the Christian, goal setting and planning for the future comes down to seeking what is pleasing to God and understanding that we not only can't accomplish anything without the Lord's help, but He may also change the dynamics of our lives and lead us in a direction we may not anticipate. This is a reality of living that a faithful Christian disciple accepts gladly and graciously.

God calls us to a life of faithful living in Christ Jesus as forgiven sinners. His call to us is to carry out His purpose in our lives of reaching out to others with His love and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. We hear all sorts of things about what God's purposes for our lives might be, yet, ultimately, our sole and only purpose in life is to praise and glorify Him by living in a loving, faithful relationship with Him and sharing His love and forgiveness with the world in all of our living. St. Paul reminds us in the text above that it's God's Will and purpose for our lives that, in a living and loving relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, we "look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others" (Phil. 3:4). That's what Jesus did for us as He suffered and died on the Cross for our sins and the sins of the whole world. It's an example of faithfulness to God's Will and purpose for all of us to follow faithfully and willingly in our lives. Can there be any greater ambition in life, any greater purpose in life for God's beloved, redeemed children that to reach others with the Good News that Jesus died and rose again that they might have life, forgiveness of their sins, and hope of eternity with God? Setting our life goals to touch others with Jesus' love - now that's real goal setting!

Prayer: Father, all around me I see ambitious people, with grand goals and plans for the future. The world around me encourages goal setting and a "positive mental attitude" is considered essential to success in this life. As Your child, redeemed by Jesus Christ, I find myself torn between the "apparent" benefits of such an attitude of success, and the
reality that You may have different plans for me. I'm constantly hearing about how I need to find out Your purposes for me and that my life needs to be purpose driven. Yet, despite all the "gimmicks" that are intended to keep me focused on the accomplishing something with my life, I'm certain of one thing - You have called me to be a witness to Your love in Christ, just as You have showered that love upon me. Help me to humbly seek Your will and direction for my life. Let my life be a life of service to You and others in Your name. Give me a spirit of humility so that I might serve You faithfully in response to Your great love and forgiveness for me in Christ Jesus, my Savior and Lord; in Whose precious name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.