Introduction
Last week we saw that Paul was prepared to do anything (within framework
of biblical absolutes) to get the message of Jesus out to others (vs 23).
For some here today, this may be difficult to understand. But for those
of us who have received the benefits of this message (forgiveness; Holy
Spirit; eternal life), we see the importance of this because we realize
how high the stakes really are.
He concludes this exhortation in vs 24-27 (read). It should be evident
that Paul is advocating a purposeful, goal-oriented spiritual life. He
focuses on this quality of the athletes of the Isthmian Games. He says
this is the way he lives his life--doing the things calculated to win
(disciplined training schedule; efficiency in effort)--but for different
goals and for a different prize. And he directly calls on the Corinthian
Christians (and us) to imitate him in this area.
Yet, like the Corinthians, many of us struggle in this area. Most of
us have goals for other areas of our lives (economic; educational; family;
recreational), but it is relatively rare to meet Christians who can articulate
clear spiritual goals. Some even protest that it is unspiritual to be
goal-oriented in your walk with Christ, as though the Spirit-led life
is completely spontaneous (BIBLE TEACHER WHO NEVER PREPARED). This is
an important area which we need to explore in depth . . .
Its Biblical Basis
Is this an isolated passage that can be written off as a neurotic fit
by Paul? When we survey the Bible on this subject, we find an amazing
amount of material. We can distill this material into the following theses:
God is goal-oriented. (Jn. 5:17; Eph. 1:10)
Goal-orientation is part of being made in God's image. (Gen
2:15 >> pre-fall; GARDENING; contra PASSIVE REACTION)
Eternal life will include goal-oriented activity. (MY FEAR OF
BOREDOM >> Lk. 19:17)
Jesus and other biblical models were spiritually goal-oriented.
(Lk. 13:32; Jn. 17:4; 1 Cor. 9:26,27; Phil. 3:13,14 >> 2 Tim.
4:7,8)
God exhorts all Christians to be spiritually goal-oriented.
(1 Cor. 9:24,25; 2 Pet. 1:5-8; 1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:24,25)
All Christians should have clear spiritual goals, and these goals should
be the most important goals in our lives! This is a non-optional component
of a spiritually healthy life. You can see from many of these passages
that there is a close connection between spiritual goal-orientation and
motivation and fulfillment in your Christian life. This is a big reason
why so many Christians are unmotivated in their walks. If you want your
relationship with God to be motivating, it has to be making progress,
accomplishing something.
If the biblical case is so clear and the benefits are so great, why do
so many Christians lack spiritual goal-orientation? One reason is that
there are problems you can run into . . .
Common Problems
Legalistic vs. Grace-oriented Approach: If you take your sense
of identity and acceptance from your performance, you will tend to shy
away from spiritual goals (at least high goals) because failure will threaten
you as a person. This is why understanding God's grace is so important
(EXPLAIN >> GOSPEL). Grace should free us to set goals, because
our identity and acceptance are already established and secure through
Christ's work and aren't based on our performance. In fact, goal failures
can actually increase our appreciation of grace!
Another form of legalism is viewing spiritual goals as a rigid, all-or-nothing
standard of success or failure. Instead, we should view them as something
to shoot for which will help us make more progress in the right direction
than if we didn't set them (JOHN COOPER: "I'd rather aim for an
eagle and get a birdie than aim for a par and get a bogey.").
Unrealistic vs. Realistic Goals: Those who are perfectionistic
tend to set unrealistic goals (J.H.: "I should be teaching central
teaching by now."). Then because they fail to meet them, they quit
("I'M GOING TO PRAY 2 HOURS/DAY"). Sometimes we can't know we
have unrealistic goals until we try and fail--then we need to adjust our
goals (OUR HOME CHURCH PLANTING SCHEDULE). Advice from other experienced
Christians can help a lot here.
Autonomy & Self-sufficiency vs. Humble Dependence: Jas. 4:13-16
is not down on setting goals; it is a rebuke for setting goals autonomously--without
consulting God and without acknowledging in advance God's right to interrupt
our goals. We can also have valid spiritual goals, but pursue them by
our own strength, without depending on God's wisdom and power through
consistent prayer (Jn. 15:8,16 >> 4,5). But the answer is not to
have any spiritual goals; it is to set them with genuine dependence on
God (WILLIAM CAREY: "Attempt great things for God; expect great things
from God.").
Carnal Competition vs. Service & Cooperation: Some competition
can be healthy (BEST GRADE ON TEST), but Christians sometimes pursue spiritual
goals in order to beat other Christians even when this is harmful (PRESSURING
A NEW CHRISTIAN TO LEAVE ONE GROUP TO JOIN YOURS). It would be wrong to
use vs 24a to justify this, because Paul's point is not that there is
only one prize for Christians to fight over. His point is that we should
pursue spiritual goals with serious-minded dedication like those who compete
in the games. If this is a problem for you, the answer is not to drop
your goals; it is to ask God to sanctify your motivation and cooperate
with him in doing so. Spiritual goals should involve cooperation with
other Christians (1 Cor. 3:4-9), and we should have some spiritual goals
which entail helping others succeed.
Moral Impurity vs. Integrity: Quote 2 Tim. 2:5. Some Christians
are disqualified from reward because they break the rules. Some pursue
spiritual goals to gain power over other people. Others get involved in
goal-oriented ministry to run from their poor marriages. Others get involved
in knowledge advancement while carrying on a double-life sexually. This
is hypocritical goal-orientation, and God will often sabotage the attainment
of our goals out of love to discipline us.
Yes, there are lots of ways to abuse spiritual goal-orientation—but
don't throw baby out with bathwater! The alternative of an aimless, goal-less
spiritual life leads to something just as ugly—seduction by worldly
goals. We are designed to need goal-accomplishment, so if we aren't getting
this from our walks with God, we will seek it elsewhere.
Elements of Effective Spiritual Goals
Are they sufficiently specific? Goals must be specific to have
value. You must be able to tell whether you have attained them or not.
What specifically do you want to accomplish, and within what time frame?
Avoid comparative goals for the same reason.
"Get more involved in fellowship" vs. "Commit to regularly
attend a home group. Initiate one personal conversation at each meeting.
Call or visit someone at least weekly."
"Improve my prayer life" vs. "Pray 3 times a week alone
for at least 10 minutes. Pray twice a week with other Christian friends.
Read 3 books on prayer this year."
Are long-term goals broken down into short-term goals? You should
have long-term spiritual goals, but unless you identify the practical
steps to them and turn these into short-term goals, you will probably
get disheartened.
"Become proficient in the Bible knowledge" >> "Take
2 courses this year. Read 1 theological each month. Memorize 2 verses
each week."
"Give at least 15% of my income to Christian ministry" >>
"Set up & stay on a budget. Give 5% of income this year. Retire
credit-card debts within next 18 months."
Are they properly prioritized? Goals do conflict, and everyone
prioritizes consciously or unconsciously. How you habitually choose when
they conflict is one of the truest indicators of your actual (vs. professed)
values. Consciously decide in light of scripture which goals you will
prioritize, or you will probably default to those which are easiest or
most immediately gratifying at "crunch-time." Be proactive in
prioritizing your goals, or you will live under "tyranny of the urgent."
GIVING TO GOD'S WORK vs. RECREATIONAL TOYS; FAMILY & FELLOWSHIP
INVOLVEMENT vs. CAREER ADVANCEMENT; FOCUSED MINISTRY vs. RESPONDING
TO EVERY REQUEST
Some may say "I don't like these goals. They're too confining. They
don't fit who I am." Fine—formulate your own spiritual goals.
But don't just criticize those who are spiritually goal-oriented as an
excuse for not having goals (MOODY: "I like the way I do it better
than the way you don't do it!").
Conclusion
How important you consider a race to be determines how hard you'll run
in it. OLYMPIC ATHLETES put years of training to win a metal disk--and
sometimes they are disqualified just like that (DOWNHILL SKIER). I'm not
willing to expend that kind of effort for athletics, but eternal reward
is worth striving for!
GOSPEL: You can take the first step toward this today by receiving
Christ . . .
CHRISTIANS: We need to begin to order our lives in a more conscious
way. Set forward-focused spiritual goals, and be delivered from the
boredom of an aimless, goal-less Christian life!