What you don’t hear from the pulpit about goal-setting …

How many times have you heard a sermon that revolves around setting goals?

They’re common sermons today, even though they aren’t biblically-based sermons. Because so much of what is taught about “leadership” to pastors comes directly from the secular business world, setting goals to pursue dreams is a constant mantra in leadership circles. So, because so many preachers believe and practice these business concepts, they also preach them to their congregations.

They’re messages you never heard Jesus … or Paul, or Peter, or the other apostles preach.

HOWEVER, that doesn’t mean that we don’t find in scripture teachings that direct us to pursue certain things. There are several times in the New Testament where we are exhorted, encouraged, instructed, even commanded to take up certain pursuits — to set certain goals, if you will. But these kinds of goals and objectives look very different from the “dream chasing” we often hear taught about today.

As a key example, the Apostle Paul urges us to set as an objective something we should do now and continue to pursue throughout our lifetime, it’s that big of a goal! in verses 16-18 that conclude 2 Corinthians 6, Paul reminds us of phenomenal promises we have from God. Then, in 2 Corinthians 7:1, he challenges us to make the following as a key goal in our lives …

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. – 2 Corinthians 7:1

I’m not saying there’s something wrong with setting goals (I believe in setting goals, and set goals for myself), but if we’re going to teach goal-setting from the pulpit or in the church, shouldn’t we look to the Bible for some guidance about the kind of goals we should be setting? And how many goals can you identify that could be as important, or more important, than what Paul challenges us to in 2 Corinthians 7:1?

We set goals for how much weight we want to lose, reaching a certain level in our careers, earning a certain amount of money, or being able to purchase specific wants, but how are we doing about setting and pursuing vital spiritual objectives for our lives?

All of the other goals pertaining to things that will pass away are, at very best, secondary to the objectives we need to pursue in our development as disciples of Jesus Christ. What specific, biblcally-based goals and objectives have you set for yourself that you’re pursuing with diligence?

Scotty