Setting Your Goals

By Dr. Ken Matto

Jacob - Genesis 29:15-18

(Gen 29:15-18 KJV) And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be? {16} And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. {17} Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favoured. {18} And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

 

Jacob was asked by Laban, " tell me, what shall thy wages be?" Jacob loved Laban's younger daughter Rachel and agreed to work for 7 years for her hand in marriage. After the wedding night, He realized it was Leah, and Jacob knew he was tricked. However, his love for Rachel was so strong that he agreed to work for Laban for another 7 years so he could have her as his wife. Jacob reached his goal but it took 14 years instead of 7.

 

Let us ask 5 questions to muse on before I attempt a goal in my life:

 

1) Is the ultimate reason for this goal for the glory of God?

(Acts 12:22-23 KJV) And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. {23} And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

 

2) When I reach my goal, will it master me or will I master it?

(1 Cor 6:12 KJV) All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

 

3) Will my goal be a stumbling block to others while I am attempting to meet it or after I met it?

(Rom 14:13-15 KJV) Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. {14} I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. {15} But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.

 

4) Have I counted the cost of attempting to reach my goal or the cost of maintaining it?

(Luke 14:28-32 KJV) For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? {29} Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, {30} Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. {31} Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? {32} Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

 

5) Is the goal worth attempting from my present position?

(Phil 4:10-12 KJV) But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. {11} Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. {12} I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

 

Goal reaching requires determination in our Spirit. Here are 8 principles of determination.

 

1) Set your goal and live by faith

(Heb 11:6 KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

2) Prepare yourself that God might allow you to reach your goal but by His way

(Prov 16:9 KJV) A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

 

3) Satan may throw a hindrance in your path, spiritual determination is looking past the adversity toward the goal

(Zec 4:7 KJV) Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.

 

4) Spiritual determination is seeing that the adversity in your life is an opportunity for the power of God to work in you.

(2 Cor 11:23-28 KJV) Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. {24} Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. {25} Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; {26} In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; {27} In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. {28} Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

 

5) Working hand in hand with God seems like a few days, even if it takes years.

(Gen 29:20 KJV) And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

 

6) Spiritual determination does not take shortcuts to the goal

Nehemiah 3 - All involved did all phases of the work

 

7) A person with a determined spirit will motivate others to get busy and get involved.

(Neh 3:17-18 KJV) After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part. {18} After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.

 

8) Set a time watch or time limit on your goals - Jacob set seven years, TWICE!

(Gen 29:18 KJV) And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.