Faith-Based Goal Setting

Commit Your Business Goals to God

Have you ever felt like what you were working towards didn’t have any true meaning?

Have you felt like no matter the amount of hard work you put in, you haven't been able to achieve what you set out to achieve?

You’re not alone.

Many Christian entrepreneurs deal with the same issues.

In today’s issue of “Better than Rubies”, we go over how you can set goals that are Faith Based and glorify the Lord.

TL;DR
Faith-Based Goal Setting: Commit Your Goals to God

• Seek His Kingdom First: Prioritize your spiritual life and trust God to provide what you need, focusing your goals on growing His kingdom rather than material desires.
  

• Commit Your Work to the Lord: Let go of secular values and control, trusting God’s wisdom and plan. Proverbs 16:3 advises committing your work to the Lord for guidance and success.
  

• Trust in the Lord: Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches to trust God fully, even when outcomes are uncertain, as He has a greater plan and timeline for you.
  

• Strive for Excellence: Proverbs 21:5 emphasizes diligence and consistency over haste. Align your goals with God's plan and work diligently for true success.

The Big Idea: How to Set Faith-Based Goals in Your Business

Seek His Kingdom First

Often in our entrepreneurial journey, we may feel we have fewer resources.

Whether that be time, money, energy, and whatever else we should “think” we need. 

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus addresses these concerns about our “needs”. 

He states that we should seek God’s kingdom and righteousness first.

We need to put our spiritual life first. 

We must trust that God will provide what we need. 

Because he's more than aware of what we need.

When setting your goals, know that he will provide what we need. 

Our goals should focus on growing his kingdom.

Not centered around material or worldly desires that we have.

Commit Your Work to the Lord

In this life, it's so easy to get wrapped up in wanting to attain certain things and reach certain goals.

The problem with that is that many times it isn’t to glorify the Lord.

As an entrepreneur, it can be hard to give our work fully to the Lord.

We either want control or have always relied on ourselves.

Not knowing the outcome and trusting God can be uncomfortable.

His plans may not match what we pictured.

We may have immediate needs, and we're worried his timeline does not meet those needs we have.

Also, committing to the Lord’s work can mean having to let go of secular values.

These include profit maximization and how we run our businesses.

In Proverbs 16:3, the Lord says we need to give our work to the Lord. Then, all our plans will be set.

What we need to understand is that God’s guidance and wisdom are greater than our own.

He's actively involved in our success and direction.

In uncertainty, we can trust that he has a divine plan at work.

He will lead us to peace and less anxiety.

He is our ultimate leader. 

We can trust him to share the load of the outcomes and not solely rely on ourselves.

How amazing is that?

But we need to commit our work to the Lord for all of this to happen.

Keep that in mind as you set your goals.

Are you committing your work to the Lord?

If not, why not?

If you’re not sure how, pray and ask God to show you how and stay in his word.

Trust in the Lord

As entrepreneurs, we know what hard work is, and we’re not scared to get our hands dirty.

The hard part about that is that we can work super hard on something and still not achieve what we wanted.

It can be hard to understand why, even if we've done everything right in our eyes.

That is where Proverbs 3:5-6 enlightens us.

It shares that we need to put our full trust in God, and not rely on our own understanding.

Our minds sometimes won’t be able to comprehend why things are happening in the way they are happening.

In these times, we can see that the Lord is in control of the outcomes.

Not us.

That is where our trust and faith in the Lord needs to come into play.

Submitting all our ways to him and allowing him to make our paths straight.

Because he has a greater plan and his own timeline for us.

With that, we can be happy and content.

For we know he wants to bless us and provide for us more than we can ever imagine.

If you’re not sure what goals to set…

If you’re not sure how to set the right goals…

If you’re not sure if the goals you set glorify him…

Trust in him.

Submit to him.

Speak to him and allow him to work in you and make your paths straight.

Strive for Excellence

Today, we've preached to hustle as much as possible. 

We reward getting things most people want quickly.

This leads to many entrepreneurs taking shortcuts.

They don't work diligently on their craft and business.

What we need to understand is what Proverbs 21:5 states.

Diligence requires consistency and persistence. You must also trust in God's perfect timing.

We should not be hasty in our decisions.

Haste can lead to bad decisions made from emotions or little information.

These bad decisions can cause failure.

Through our work, we should be honoring God and striving for excellence.

When setting your goals, make sure you're taking the time to do it diligently and carefully.

This will be essential for the success of your business.

Then, when you work hard, you will reap the rewards.

Because your goals are aligned with the Lord’s plan for you.

Nuggets of Wisdom

Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established."

Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 21:5: "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Reflection Questions and Actionable Steps:

• Question: What specific steps can I take to dedicate my work to God each day?

• Question: How can I incorporate prayer and biblical reflection into my goal-setting process?

• Question: Are your goals focused on growing God’s kingdom rather than personal gain?

• Action Step: Pray and meditate on your business goals, ensuring they align with biblical principles and contribute to God's kingdom.

Brand Case Study: Alabaster

Combining Faith with Aesthetics

Alabaster Co., founded by Brian Chung and Bryan Ye-Chung, sought to make the Bible visually appealing to Millennials.

By integrating high-quality imagery and minimalist design, they created Bibles that resemble chic lifestyle magazines, making scripture more accessible and engaging for younger generations​.

This meticulous attention to detail in their product presentation helps to elevate the Bible, portraying it not just as a religious text but as a work of art that honors God​.

Modern Marketing Strategies

Alabaster Co. effectively used social media, particularly Instagram, to showcase their visually appealing Bibles.

This strategy helped them reach a wide audience and build a loyal customer base through organic growth driven by user-generated content.

Building Community and Authenticity

The founders' personal stories and authentic mission resonated with their audience, helping build a strong, loyal customer base.

Community building and authenticity are crucial for faith-based businesses to establish trust and foster a sense of belonging.

Key Takeaways:

1. Blend Tradition with Contemporary Trends: Align your products with modern cultural values to appeal to contemporary audiences.

2. Leverage Modern Marketing: Use social media and digital marketing to engage your target audience effectively.

3. Community and Authenticity: Build a community by being authentic and sharing your personal story and mission.

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