what are your goals?

Posted by e. barrett | Posted on 03-08-2009

Category : bible, faith, taking action

Tags: , , , , , , ,

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We live in a world obsessed with measurement.  There are countless books about goal setting, measuring performance, and identifying “metrics.” I’ve even worked as a consultant studying these things.  Don’t get me wrong, I believe metrics are a necessary part of life.  You wouldn’t want a carpenter to build you a table if he couldn’t accurately measure the dimensions.  You wouldn’t want a doctor to give you a drug if she couldn’t identify the dosage you needed.

Measuring stuff is good.

But like most things humans do, we can take them too far.  We can become obsessed with goals and measurements.  And instead of pursuing something meaningful, we fall into comparing ourselves to other people.  And the instant we do that there will always be someone ahead of us.

Think for a moment, what are your goals?  Are they for a nice job?  A family?  Respect?  Money?  Security?  Safety?  If you’re a church are your goals to get bigger?  To reach more people?  To build something amazing?  The irony is, none of those things are bad.  They are all worthwhile goals, all worthwhile measurements.  But in the end, do any of  these things bring your life true meaning?

As Solomon wrote, when we pursue these things, no matter how nice the seem, we eventually realize that they are all meaningless.  The one thing that matters, however, is our obedience to God.  That’s the one metric we should never walk away from.  That’s the one goal that should be our measuring stick.

If we’re being obedient to God then nothing else matters in terms of achieving goals.  We may want a house, but if you’re obedient to God and homeless you are better off than someone living in a mansion who has walked away from God.  Yes goals matter.  But they need to be focused on God.

Success in God’s eyes isn’t determined by your paycheck, career, or friends.  It’s determined by your obedience to him.  Why should our metrics be any different?

This week I’d challenge you to really examine your goals.  Do they match up with what God would have for your life?  Or are you becoming obsessed with the wrong measurements?  What are you going to do about it?

the growth of meaninglessness

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Posted by e. barrett | Posted on 11-06-2008

Category : God, choice, faith, taking action

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

  

How do we know our lives matter?

That’s a question that seems to haunt me.  On the days that I feel most depressed are the days I question my value to the world the most.  Did I really make a difference?  Does my life really matter?

In a world filled with so much doubt, is it any wonder that we question if we matter?

The answer, of course, is that our lives do matter, and that we can make a difference.  God values each of us.  But we also have to want to make a difference.  We have to choose to embrace God.  We have to embrace curiosity, and be willing to take action.

That sort of sounds like work.  And it its. 

But that’s okay, because part of what God calls us to is to take action.  And sometimes action is difficult; we may not make the impact we want; we may not feel ourselves making radical changes for the kingdom.  Perhaps we should be doing more.  But as long as we’re moving towards God, we’re growing.  And as long as there’s growth, there’s meaning.