Why are goals important?

Genesis 12:1-3The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

God’s goals set the agendas for our lives. God’s promise to Abram gave Abram such a strong purpose and direction that he risked everything to pursue it.

Mark 10:45“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

1 Corinthians 9:26So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.

The right overarching and intermediate goals keep us focused on our primary mission and determine how we conduct our lives. Jesus’ goal of giving his life in service for others shaped the way he lived each day, guiding every interaction with the people he met. Our own smaller goals need to be guided by the same overarching goal of unselfish service to others.

Job 6:11“But I don’t have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for.”

Goals give us strength and endurance during the challenging times in our lives.

1 Corinthians 9:16Preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News!

2 Corinthians 5:14Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.

Hebrews 12:1-3Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

God-centered goals are motivating. Keeping focused on Christ and his purposes for us will help us endure and persevere.

1 Peter 3:8-9Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

Defining and achieving our goals can be rewarding when they help and bless others.

Psalm 40:8“I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”

Pursuing godly goals brings fulfillment and joy to our lives.

Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

2 Corinthians 4:18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Pursuing godly goals should energize us and bring us hope and blessing.

Proverbs 4:25-27Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.

Pursuing godly goals helps to keep us focused on what we are pursuing. Our focus on the goodness of God’s path protects us from temptation.

John 17:4“I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”

Galatians 2:8The same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.

The goals given to us by God protect us from trying to do too much. God is glorified, not by our doing everything we can possibly do, but by our fulfilling the goals he has for us. Just as Peter was called to the Jewish people and Paul was called to the Gentiles, God gives each of us a different role to play in his greater plan.

1 Chronicles 22:1-5Then David said, “This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings!” So David gave orders to call together the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them the task of preparing finished stone for building the Temple of God. . . . David said, “My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now.” So David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death.

A leader’s bold vision can help people accomplish great goals. David’s vision for the Temple was fulfilled in the construction of a magnificent structure for the glory of God. David wasn’t called to actually build the Temple. That task was given to his son, Solomon. David’s path was to make preparations for the building.