The big picture is where productivity begins, whether for a pastor or really anyone. What’s the biblical rationale for life? What are your biblical values and how are they What roles do you providentially have in life? What does the Bible say about each of them? As you analyze your life circumstances, biblical priorities, and personal giftedness, what do you believe would be the best end product to shoot for in each of these roles you have in your life? That’s where goals come in. Goals will shed light on how you plan each week and evaluate how your doing as time goes on. Weekly planning helps to guide how you think about each day. Overly intentional? Maybe. But I think these are merely practical ways to look at life and ministry and make sure you are aligning life and ministry along a biblical track.
So in this post I want to concentrate on identifying and defining biblical values. What are the core principles that govern your thinking and your behavior? Perhaps you could ask yourself, when I die, what do I most want my life to leave behind that were the obvious commitments of my life and ministry? Answer that question with a list of one word responses. Then begin to clarify those words in a short sentence or two. Here’s a few steps to take in defining and clarifying your values:
1. Brainstorm a list of one-word standards, ideals and priorities that are biblically based and very important to you.
2. List each one word value and then write a present-tense, first person affirmation statement about how you envision that value being lived out.
3. Think about which of these values is universal for all believers and which are somewhat specific to you, your gifts and the providence of God in your life.
These values may not be true of you every day, but they are those elements of a biblically faithful life that you passionately desire to pursue. They comprise the sort of biblically driven legacy you pray you could leave behind. More than likely, over time, you will continually be refining the way you state these values. The more you learn about yourself, ministry, and the word, the more you will tweak how you express and pursue these values.
Here’s a few examples:
A Follower of Jesus Christ: I will seek to have my life reflect the focus and priorities of Jesus Christ.
Transformation: Jesus Christ changed lives; I will be a tool used by Christ to change the lives of others through the gospel.
Loyalty: I will be self-sacrificially committed to the people most important to me.
Christ-centered: My thinking, passions and actions will be run through a grid of Scripture.
Christ-likeness: I will work and be dependent upon God for my character to be conformed to that of Jesus Christ.
Love God with Heart, Mind, Soul, Strength: I aim for every aspect of my life to enjoy God as my highest priority.
Love My Neighbor as Myself: I seek to meet the most important needs of others as much as my own.
Focused Discipline: My life will be radically centered upon what is most important and undistracted by what is of less importance.
God’s Glory: My every motive will be driven by the excellency and joy of God’s supremacy in all things.
