Reaching Our Goals

While there are so many things we don’t know about the Magi, or Wisemen, like their names, how many of them there were (we don’t know that were 3, only that there were 3 gifts), where they came from, where they ended up, and what time they showed up to give their gifts to Jesus, there are some important things that we do know about them. The first thing we know is that they had a larger than life vision that changed their lives. The Magi had a vision, literally they saw a new star in the sky and that star inspired them to act. The Magi believed that this new star meant that a new king had been born, so they set a goal of finding that new king. They had a larger than life vision that helped them set a big goal.

In his book Courageous Leadership, Bill Hybles says their church, Willowcreek Community Church, tries to set goals that are big enough to require God’s supernatural activity and goals that will keep the church on her knees. My hope is that in this New Year we will set goals that will require us to have faith that God is moving among us and I hope we will set goals that will drive us to pray each day seeking God’s strength. If the goals we set can be accomplished on our own, then we are thinking and dreaming too small. I want to invite us to think big. What’s the larger than life vision that will guides our lives? What’s the vision that God has put in our hearts that will require us to set some big goals?

Faith Church has a pretty big vision in front of us. Our mission statement says we are setting out to radically transform the world through passionate disciples of Jesus Christ. In other words, we want God to use our lives of faith to transform the world around us. That’s a larger than life mission and so we need to identify some goals that can help us accomplish this mission. What about a goal of 100% participation in small groups? After all if we are going to be the passionate disciples of Jesus Christ who have any hope of transforming the world then we need to be part of groups that will help us develop and strength our faith. So one goal might be to get everyone involved in a small group so we can become the kind of passionate disciples who can radically transform the world.

Whether we establish big goals in the church or in our own lives, the Magi give us some valuable tips on how to reach those goals. The first thing we need to do is draw from what we already know and from our own experiences. Notice that when the star appears in the sky the Magi draw from what they already know, they knew that a new star in the sky means a new king has been born, and because of the placement of the star in the sky they believe this new king is a king in Israel. They draw from what they know. Sometimes I wonder if in life and in faith we really need to learn more or if we just need to apply what we already know. There was a great book out a number of years ago called everything I need to know, I learned in kindergarten, and the author Robert Fulghum said These are the things I learned: Share everything. Play fair. Don't hit people. Put things back where you found them. Clean up your own mess. Don't take things that aren't yours. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. Wash your hands before you eat. Flush. Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Live a balanced life . Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work some every day. Take a nap every afternoon. When you go out into the world, watch for traffic, hold hands and stick together. Be aware of wonder. Now if we would just apply these things, maybe life for everyone would be better.

The same is true with our faith. We really may not need to learn a lot more, we may just need to apply what we already know. Think about what we already know. We know God wants us to forgive one another, not once or twice but as Jesus said, 70x70 times – or always. We know we are to love our neighbors not just with words but with actions. We know we are care for the needy, we know we need to worship and pray and give on a regular basis. Those are all things we know already, there is nothing new here, but will we draw from these things to help us achieve the goals that we set in life.

The Magi drew from their own learning and experience, but when they faced a problem, they were also willing to ask for help. When the Magi set off on their journey to find the new king they assume the king would be born in the capital of Israel which was Jerusalem, but when they arrive in Jerusalem they realize they are in the wrong place, so they ask the scholars and religious leaders of Israel where their king was to be born. They asked for help. If we are going to set goals that are larger than life and bigger than we are – then we are going to need to ask for help, help from God and help from one another, but this is often the area where we have the most trouble.

Too often what holds us back in life and in ministry is pride. Maybe we think we have all the answers, or maybe we just don’t want to look weak or foolish. Either way, if we don’t get good help and good advice, we will never reach our full potential and we will never see our goals realized. That really is one of the great lessons of our Christmas Dinner. There is no way we could serve 697 people if we as a church did not seek help from the community. We need the resources that others have to give. We need the creative ideas, the gift of time and money and food that others have to offer and we need to be willing to humbly and gratefully accept help when it is offered. It’s not always easy for a church to say, we can’t do it by ourselves, but if we are willing to open up and receive the help others, we will accomplish more than if we work alone.

Another lesson we learn from the Magi is that we will never achieve our goals if we are not willing to take some risks. It was a risk for the Magi to leave their homes in the East. Travel in those days was dangerous. They didn’t know where their journey would take them. They didn’t know how long it would take and they didn’t know how much it would cost. There were many things they didn’t know when they left home, but they took big risks because they wanted to find this new born king.

One of the reasons we may never see our goals and dreams realized is that we may be too afraid to take the risk. One of the major regrets of my life is that in High School I was too afraid to try out for a part in our school’s production of Godspell. I wanted to sing in that musical and I wanted one particular part because I wanted to sing one particular song, but I was too afraid to audition, so I settled for playing in the pit band. Anytime we step out and try something new, anytime we head out on a new path or start out on a new journey, it’s risky, because we may fail and the journey might be a disaster, but to do nothing means that we gain nothing. Not stepping out and moving forward means that in the larger picture, we are moving backwards. If the Magi had not left their homes, they may have been safe, but they never would have met Jesus. If the disciples had stayed home and remained fishermen they would have never seen the blind regain their sight, or the lame walk, or the deaf hear, or the dead rise. We can’t be afraid to take a risk; even if we fail, we may learn a valuable lesson in the process which will help us become a better person, or a stronger and healthier church.

So the Magi teach us that if we want to reach those big goals, then we need to draw from what we already know, we need to ask for help and seek the wisdom and guidance of others and then we have to be willing to take a risk and step out in new ways. The last thing the Magi teach is that worship is central to it all because our worship of God will give us the guidance and direction we need.

When the Magi find Jesus they worship him. They didn’t just bow down to him – they gave themselves to him, they gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, and it is after they have worshipped Jesus and after they have given themselves to him that they are warned not to go back to Herod but to go home by another route. We assume this is the message of God because this new direction given to the Magi not only kept them safe, it kept Jesus safe as well. Herod wanted to kill this new born king, so the Magi returning home a different way gave Mary and Joseph the time they needed to escape with Jesus.

When we worship God on a regular basis and when we give ourselves to God in consistent ways, we are putting ourselves in a place where God can speak to us and give us the guidance and direction we need to accomplish all God has for us. I believe that God still wants to speak to us, but not only do we have to be quiet enough to listen, we have to have the right heart and attitude to be able to hear. The right heart is a heart that worships God and the right attitude is one of complete selflessness and humility. When we are in that place of worship, when we are willing to surrender and give ourselves to God’s dreams and visions and plans – God will guide us so that we accomplish them.

I know there will be several goals that we as a church will embrace this year as we seek to radically transform the world. It might be 100% participation in small groups, it may be to increase worship attendance, it might be reaching out to children in new ways. It might be figuring out how to serve 1,000 people Christmas Dinner next year, or figuring out how to serve an Easter Dinner to 100. Whatever the new year brings us, I hope that we will have the faith to dream big dreams and set goals that will require us to not only pray, but pray earnestly for the supernatural activity of God to move among us. As we work to achieve our own life’s goals or the goals we set in the church, let us commit ourselves to living out what we already know, let us draw from the wisdom and faith of others and let us not be afraid to take some risks and try some new things. I know the light of Christ still shines forth brightly, may we follow that light into God’s great purpose and plan for our lives and for the life of the church.