Goals—Biblical or Not?

By Charles F. Stanley

Too often, we act as if goal setting is unspiritual. Yet, unless we give serious thought to personal and spiritual goals, our schedule, emotions, and financial decisions will be dictated by others. Following are four observations about goals which illustrate that the walk of faith and plans for the future are not mutually exclusive.

First, setting goals establishes priorities. Spiritual growth can be monitored and measured by how you expend your energy, resources, and time. When you become a Christian, your priorities should shift and, in some cases, completely change. This is the natural result of maturing in your relationship with God. However, if you fall away from Him through unwise counsel or fleshly desires, you can expect your values to change for the worse. An honest look at the way you spend your time and money will give you a good sense of your spiritual growth or lack of it.

Setting goals is one way you can be sure to center your efforts on what really matters. That way, trivial pursuits won’t become your focus. It’s a way of saying, “If I don’t do anything else, I want to make sure I . . . ” Scripture tells us, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty” (Prov. 21:5). Planning is your safety net in a world that too often makes the things with no eternal significance seem essential.

Second, setting goals enables you to move from remorse to real change. We all lament things we did or didn’t do last year, but regret and remorse are no guarantee that anything will change. If you don’t have a plan, all you’re left with are good intentions. For example, let’s suppose you invited friends over for dinner next Saturday night. You would look pretty silly if you didn’t plan what you were going to eat. Good intentions amount to nothing without a plan of action. Admitting you have a problem will get you only so far. At some point, you need to come up with concrete steps to change.

Third, goals are a tool for character development. Setting goals is one of the most effective character-building tools God has given us. As you mature and understand the positive side of making plans and working toward them, you will reap the benefits of delayed gratification. Having goals is a sure way of learning self-control. For example, if your goal is to pay off a debt by next year, you will learn to exercise control in your spending habits.

The same is true when you think about living for tomorrow rather than for the thrill of today. Sin never makes sense in the long run. But if your focus is short-sighted, you’ll be prone to look at the immediate situation but not the long-term implications. The pie that your next-door neighbor made to thank you for your kindness looks tempting. But if you have a goal to lose weight for better health, it makes sense to look at the long-term benefit of not eating the pie. Living with the future in mind keeps life today in perspective.

Fourth, goals are evidence that you are serious about your God-given responsibilities. This is, perhaps, the most important reason to set goals. Too many people buy into the popular belief that it’s okay to live only for today. But sadly, individuals with this attitude usually refuse to be accountable for their lives. God never meant for us to shirk the responsibilities He’s given us.

As a father, I’m acutely aware that dads are responsible for setting the direction and pace their families will go. Yet many people consider the job of parenting too threatening. So they leave it to whoever happens to be around. That choice can be deadly for kids.

With so many things working against you, these four reasons are powerful motivators to push you from complacency into action. Begin today by establishing goals that will bring about deeper relationships with your family and with God. If you went no further, you would benefit from the life-changing principle of making plans that align with God’s will for your life. Establish where you want to be six months or a year from now, and ask God to give you the strength to stay on track.

Adapted from “Charles Stanley’s Handbook for Christian Living,” by Charles F. Stanley. 1996. p.296-300.