God Centered Goals – Creating Goals that Matter

Next in Ephesians 6, is the topic of bond servants and masters, which can be equivalent to employment today. I find it encouraging to note the order of importance that I’ve placed employment in my heart and life, is lining up with scripture. God has personally taught both my husband and I, work is less of a priority, than most people make of it, even carnal Christians.

Practical Goals for work/money –

• Be patient with frustrating co-workers.
• Learn to not take on too much work, which will lead to overwhelm.
• Learn to take leadership if you tend to be fearful person.
• As led by God, share your faith with a co-worker.
• Train others in order to delegate your work assignments.
• Find a new job.
• Pay off car loan or trade-in car.

You might find these goals different than expected for work goals. When I was working at a corporate job my manager always expected a goal that can be measurable, through concretely doing something, which can be proven on paper. For example, sign a million dollar contract this year, travel for work, be promoted, get a raise, etc.

But as a Christian, making personal goals for yourself that are between you and The Lord, will look a little different. Some work goals might not be directly related to the job that you do. Instead, it might relate to the relationships that you have with your frustrating co-workers or your ability to be patient with hard-to-love people.

Or for another example, maybe you are a person who is crippled by fear. You never take leadership or try to learn anything new at your job, because you fear messing up and looking foolish. Maybe a God-centered goal for this type of person would be the opposite of the over-ambitious person. Maybe it would be committing to lead the next project. It would take the grace of God to help a fearful person step out of their comfort zone.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you are an over-ambitious person who has been stretched too thin, a God-centered goal for this type of person, might be to take-on less work. In order for you to lighten your workload, a solution might be to train others to do your job, so your workload can be divided. I have personally seen this scenario take place in my old corporate job. A whole other department acquired half of my department’s workflow, because my co-workers and I, were bombarded with too many responsibilities.

I know some people don’t like the idea of teaching others to do what they do, because they are threatened by the loss of job security. But as a Christian, it’s not about job security. It’s about being secure in Christ as your provider, and knowing that you are living in a way the pleases Him by living by faith.

Furthermore, I know that a major change like this might not be an object in your control, but I think it’s important to be honest with your manager when they ask you how the things are going. Be honest when there is a substantial amount of work that requires more than yourself. It will only bring light to the truth of your situation. Your honestly will bring hope for change. Maybe then, you’ll receive the extra hired hands that you need.

I don’t say this being unaware of the fact, this might be difficult to express to your superior. If you’re finding it difficult to share the full truth about your work struggles, I think it‘s wise to ask yourself the why behind this difficulty. Do you genuinely like helping, but have bit off more than you can chew? Do you fear that you will lose the approval of others and no longer be admired? Do you fear you will look incompetent and risk your good reputation? Are you a peacemaker who doesn’t want to confront uncomfortable conflict? Do you fear disappointing people? Sometimes it’s easier to say yes, so you will feel secure by the options of others. Sometimes it’s easier to say yes in order to avoid uncomfortable conversations that are necessary. In the moment, it will feel easier to people-please, until you begin to carry the heavy burden of that commitment.

With the wide amount of responsibilities given to my husband at his job, he had to face some of these questions himself. Within his job and even other areas of his life, God has challenged Jared’s fear of God vs. fear of man. In attempt to honor God with his time by limiting his workload, he’s realized the importance of being aware of the temptation to over commit himself, to responsibilities and unrealistic deadlines. His God-centered goal has been to hold fast to his convictions of fighting his people pleasing tendencies, rather than giving into the pressure of other people’s demands or heavy workloads. He is learning that just because he is capable of doing many projects sufficiently, it doesn’t mean he has to be the person responsible to do everything.

Although it feels uncomfortable to push-back in order to regulate work obligations, there has been a lot of good fruit coming from Jared’s growth in this area. A few being, maintaining a healthy marriage; and also a restfulness found in remembering God’s sovereign hand over his job. This genuine confidence in God’s sovereignty, frees us from worldly concerns of job loss because of displeasing people. Do what honors God at your job and with your time, and then trust Him for the results. It will stretch your faith, while also requiring boldness and courage as you choose to step into what would please God most.

Being less invested in your work might also include, actually using your vacation time/sick time, less traveling, less over-time, less clients, etc.

Maybe for some, this might result in making less money. I know that money can be a big motivator that could potentially temp people and dictate the path that is taken. But as a Christian I don’t think money should ever be the center of our decision making. Because work/money should be lower on the priority list of God, your husband, kids, (and I’d also like to add your health) I think a good question to ask yourself is, how can you honor God and honor your family by spending less time invested in your job? I think this is a good question to ask yourself because we need to get our eyes off money. We need to ask ourselves what earning “extra” money is costing us, in lost time.  The more time we spend working, the more time we lose in the most important and valuable areas of our life. 

If in some way your job is negatively impacting these important relationships and home life, the goal might be to leave it and find something that will suit your personal life better; or like I said to take-on less work, if possible. Work should be used as only a tool for your life, but it shouldn’t be your life. 

I love what my husband said in his e-book, “You might have realized by now, that as much as you try to save money and “get ahead” in this world, there are always surprises and setbacks that squash your goals. It certainly seems that money gained one way seems to “take flight” ten ways (Prov. 23:5). You also may have realized that even when you have been somewhat successful, that no lasting happiness came from it, and you were probably concerned about losing your wealth. I have concluded that if your goal in this life is to work hard and make money, in order to acquire your lustful desires, you will be greatly disappointed”. 

I think another important aspect to consider when it comes to jobs and money is the lifestyle that you are choosing to live. If you are a person who has many luxuries and expenses that have become a heavy financial burden, this too can negatively impact your life and bring many disappointments. You find that you need the demanding job to continue living your lifestyle.

I think in America, even as Christians we tend to think that we need so many luxuries, not just to be happy, but to live comfortably. I have to say, that literally surrendering almost everything that we owned in order to move into a tiny house, was probably one of the most liberating experiences that taught us so much in many different areas of our hearts. With it only being my husband and I, we truly did not need a whole lot for our needs to be met. Tiny house living wasn’t perfect, but for the most part we were content with having very little and being financially responsible for very little. I wouldn’t say that buying a tiny house solved all life’s problems, but there absolutely was more financial freedom.

The point of me saying this, isn’t about advising you to buy a tiny house. It’s to encourage you to genuinely surrender, what might be a burden that has lingered into other major areas of your life. I promise, that you don’t need much to be happy or to live comfortably.

Today we do live in a regular house now, where we have more financial responsibilities again. However, we still have freedom from financial burdens, by not living outside our means. We know what type of extra expenses would be irresponsible and unwise to invest in. 

With all this being said, I’m sure there are some over ambitious people applying to themselves 2 Thess 3:10, and saying, “well if a man doesn’t work, a man doesn’t eat. Working as much as I do is needed to provide the best things for my family. And providing the best for my family is loving them”. There is some truth to this statement, but if you are a person who tends to overwork, applying this scripture to yourself, is actually being taken out of context. When reading this scripture in context, Paul isn’t talking to the over ambitious people; he’s talking to the lazy person, and encouraging them to get to work.

Being a provider isn’t the only way to love your family. Loving your kids is also seen through teaching them and spending time with them. It’s loving them through being a good listener and prioritizing them, so that you make time to intentionally be present in their life.

However, if you realize that you are the type of person who can be lazy, maybe a goal for you would be to track how often and how long you take breaks; how often and how long do you find yourself using social media or watching tv? How often do you find yourself procrastinating? When you realize that someone needs help, do you usually help them, if you have the capacity to do so?

Upon examining yourself, if you find that you have more time on your hands than you realized, I think a good goal for this type of person would be to take the initiative to pursue more work. Maybe there is a way you can offer your help on a project.  Maybe there is a way you can help your neighbor or a friend. Maybe you can spend more time with The Lord.

At my old corporate job, after another department acquired half of our work-flow, I was personally a lot less busy. However, there was one particular person in my department who was always bombarded more than anyone else in my department. At the time, she worked there for about 11 year and had a great reputation of doing her job very well. She understood all of the one-off things and exceptions to the rule, that most people didn’t know. She knew unique elements to each account right off the top of her head. Naturally everyone asked her a lot of questions; and she would usually receive the most challenging projects. Rather than being lazy, my co-workers and I took it upon ourselves to learn about some of the more challenging and complicated accounts to manage, in order to free herself from being overloaded. I think this was a real blessing to her because it helped her to achieve work-life balance. While at the same time, we became more sufficient at our own job role. We became a stronger team because we genuinely supported each other. We each picked up the slack when one of us was struggling, needed time off, or was just inexperienced. Although this was a secular job, I really do believe that God used this in some ways to grow my character.

No matter if you struggle with laziness or over-working, remember that God sees it all. Honor Him with the way you spend your time. I think if we keep this in the forefront of our minds, it will help us to be wise in how we choose to spend our time. It will help us to honor God and our families.

I have to admit that as a home maker, there are many temptations to be lethargic. With no obligation to a traditional work schedule or supervisor, I’ve had to create my own agenda that I hold myself accountable to, unto God. I will post more about this on the website, for those who also might need some extra encouragement, the way I‘ve needed it.

But anyways, developing some of these God-centered work/money goals might be dependent on your personal burdens, weaknesses and struggles. These things might be manifesting themselves in some physical way through your job or financial situation, due to a spiritual heart issue that God wants to heal. It’s important to take the time and be still and honest before the Lord. This is the first step to find healing and freedom.

Scriptures: 

1 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV 
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 

Proverbs 29:25 AMP 
The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in and puts his confidence in the LORD will be exalted and safe. 

Galatians 1:10 AMP 
Am I now trying to win the favor and approval of men, or of God? Or am I seeking to please someone? If I were still trying to be popular with men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ. 

Proverbs 23:4-5 NLT
Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. [5] In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.

Proverbs 10:22 NKJV
The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

Psalm 127:1-2 NKJV
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. [2] It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.