Does the Bible teach anything about setting goals?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Scripture teaches that planning ahead through setting goals is part of a healthy work process (Luke 14:28–33; Proverbs 6:6–11; Proverbs 21:5). But it also warns that if we aren't careful, we can set self-serving goals or be so set on accomplishing goals that we neglect to steward our bodies, our relationships, and our personal relationship with God well (Proverbs 19:21; Matthew 6:33; James 4:13-15). Scripture indicates that when we delight ourselves in God, He can influence the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4), which will in turn have an impact on our goals. Additionally, our goals should line up with His plans for us and what He esteems in His Word (Proverbs 3:5-6). Humility should be a big part of the goal setting process, since Scripture encourages us to seek the council of wise people (Proverbs 15:22). Moreover, God directs our steps (Proverbs 16:9), and He can lead us into a new season or direction at any point (Ecclesiastes 3:1; James 4:13-15). When we plan, we should do so with a heavenly perspective (Matthew 6:33-34), setting goals for the glory of God (Colossians 3:17, 23), rather than for our own self-glory.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• God can direct our desires so that we will set the goals He wants us to achieve (Psalm 37:4). Our goals should align with His will for our life, which is laid out in His Word.
• Setting goals is one way to faithfully steward the resources and blessingsGod gives us. We must submit to God in all of our goal setting (Proverbs 3:5-6).
• Scripture indicates we should ask wise people in our lives for advice on how to best create and follow a plan to achieve our goals: "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed" (Proverbs 15:22).
• We must be humble enough to allow God to direct our steps in His own way, which may look different from what we thought: "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps" (Proverbs 16:9). We should strive to do our best but also recognize that God is in control, not us.
• Hard work is a necessity. When we set goals, we should work diligently in hopes of achieving them: "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty" (Proverbs 21:5).
• To best meet our goals, we should use the season we are in to prepare for the season ahead. We must not be like the lazy sluggard, but rather like the diligent ant (Proverbs 6:6-11).
• Sometimes our plans are fine, but our timing is not. Maybe the season we are in is one of rest and refreshment, even if it isn’t what we ”planned” for (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• God's plans are better than ours. If we focus on His Kingdom, everything else falls into place (Matthew 6:33–34).
• Goal-setting must take cost into account---whether that be finances, time, or any other resource (Luke 14:28–33). We should ask ourselves if we are both willing and prepared to pay the costs.
• Time spent growing in intimacy with God is not idle. We need to seek God's wisdom on what He would have us do in any season—to rest, to prepare, to be diligently working, etc. Our ultimate goal, always, is to please Him and bring Him glory (Colossians 3:17, 23).
• Good planning is not a guarantee that we will always achieve our goals; God’s plan for us will always prevail—and we should be grateful for that. James warns, "Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit'— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that'" (James 4:13–15).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Bible makes it clear that we should set goals and plan for the future, while at the same time have a humble attitude and trust in God. We are to be intentional yet open-handed—wise and diligent stewards who know that our trust and dependence is ultimately in God and not ourselves. We can ask God to direct us in the way we should go and to turn our hearts toward His will. His purpose for each of us will prevail, even though the steps to accomplish that purpose may look different than we think (Proverbs 19:21). We can set goals, but we should submit them to God and ask for His wisdom, enabling, and intervention to accomplish His purposes for our life. Let us say with David, regardless of the season we are in, "Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul" (Psalm 143:8).

UNDERSTAND

• Scripture teaches the wisdom of making plans.
• Though believers should make plans, the priority in all goal-setting should be seeking that which brings glory to God.
• Believers should pray for wisdom in planning, specifically that personal plans and goals conform to God’s will as revealed in Scripture.

REFLECT

• How can you make sure your goals reflect God’s priorities rather than just your personal ambitions?
• When your plans don’t go as expected, how can you remind yourself to trust that God’s purposes are higher and better?
• How often do you invite God into your goal-setting process through prayer and reflection on God’sWord?

ENGAGE

• How can believers help each other stay focused on God’s will while pursuing personal or professional goals?
• What are some practical biblical principles of planning and dependence on God that we can teach to others?
• How does the biblical view of goal-setting challenge the world’s message of self-reliance and personal success?