Published by Why Christians do not set goals
Somebody said that most people have no goals or plans for their life. Nowhere is this truer than with Christians. You know why? Many Christians believe that all you need to succeed in life is to have faith in God.
Well if you are Christian I won’t ask for your permission but I am going to bust that bubble of yours. I just did. You need goals and you need to have plans on how to reach your goals. A lot of folks still believe that all that talk about the need to set goals and make plans is mumbo jumbo that motivational authors and speakers use to make a career or a living. Wrong again.
We all believe in the Bible. That is if we are true Christians. Well I am going to show you a few specifics which show that not only does God sanctions setting goals but He also sets goals and makes plans. Only a fool thinks he/she is better or wiser than God.
Goal setting and planning in the Old Testament
Goals and planning began in the beginning. God would not have created such a vast universe without a plan (see Genesis 1). Man sinned and God set a goal to redeem man and his plan for reaching this goal was to send his only son to die for man (see Genesis 3).
In Genesis 11 a group of pagans set a goal to build a tower to heaven. God had to come down to frustrate their plans. Noah’s goal was to build an ark (see Genesis 6) and he had a plan. Ditto Moses. King Solomon the wisest man of his time and beyond had a goal to build a temple for God and he made plans towards reaching that goal. For me a very important verse on goals and planning can be seen in Psalm 33:10-11. It makes me understand that God plans, the heathen plan and so as a Christian I need to set me some goals and make some plans.
Goal setting and planning in the New Testament
Nothing captures the importance of setting goals and making plans like the statement the Lord Himself made when He said (paraphrase mine) which of you wanting to succeed at something (goal) will not first of all sit down and count the cost (plans). The early church set goals, the early apostles also had goals and made plans. What of you dearly beloved?
God has goals/plans
God is Almighty and can do all things yet He set himself some goals. His greatest goal is for all men to be saved. The plan he put in place to achieve that goal was for his son to die on the cross. It thus gives me confidence that he is waiting for me to set goals and make plans because he wants to prosper my plans and cause me to reach my goals (see Psalm 20:4).
The final word
Lack of goals is an invitation to fail. Remember that though you are the child of the king prayer +faith minus goals and plans = failure. No goals no success. God bless you as you set those goals.
