A blogging friend, Brad Harmon, has three blogs and believes in the power of increasing our digital footprint. Having followed his blog, Marketplace Christianity, for many, many months I know from reading and interacting with him that his heart is for sharing information and building community. Towards the beginning of 2011, he set up what he called “My Crazy Insane 90 day Blog Promotion Challenge”.
He professed on a recent post that he stumbled out of the gate on this challenge and is recommitting to it to follow through on his original challenge, which was and is a crazy and insane challenge!
The cool thing is that he has several blogging buddies, including myself, who have reached out in concern….is this goal too big? (Note: the concern I believe indicates that Brad has indeed built community!)
One such friend, Amos Johnson, posed the question of whether this was “a God idea or a good idea”. Being both strong Christ following business men, I am confident that this was posed sincerely, and considered seriously.
Are Your Goals God Goals or Good Goals?
I think this is a question of significant importance probably for every person in business and in life. And the issue could swing both ways:
- are we limiting God, by not stretching and stepping out in faith with “crazy and insane” God-sized goals.
- are we setting a huge goal, just for goals sake, and it’s achievement is more a matter of personal pride than glorifying God.
And even if it isn’t a God idea, some may just be good ideas, without any real eternal significance.
What If It Is A Good Idea?
Just because it is a good idea, is it necessarily ours to pursue?
This is another significant question, because I struggle with, and see other business owners tempted, by the next good idea. And although in itself it is a great idea, their is always opportunity cost to pursuing it.
…distraction from our current business focus.
…dilution of our human resources (including us personally).
…potential investment.
…bad timing.
…..and so on…..
Should we set big goals to achieve, stepping out in faith for our Big God? Yes!
Should we even pursue good ideas that may or may not be of eternal significance? Yes!
However, we need to be thoughtful and discerning about which ones and when.
Can We Tell If It Is A God Idea?
I liked what Amos said about God ideas:
When we go after God ideas there is an anointing that goes with it. Even if it’s hard, we are able to move forward with joy and Faith knowing that we doing exactly what God called us to do.
Brad Harmon is stepping up to the plate for a big, crazy, insane God-sized challenge. I hope you will join me and support him by visiting his challenge here, and sending him your encouragement. (You may also see a return visit to your site as I am sure he is looking for new and interesting blogs to comment on!)
And, I hope you will join me in my own personal challenge, which is to begin evaluating my goals and endeavors under the lens of “is this a God idea or a Good idea” and praying for the Holy Spirit to provide us with wisdom and discernment to answer this question!
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Your post is yet another great side effect of my crazy insane challenge, Sue. 😉
I loved the comments from you and Amos as I resume (or reset) this challenge. It’s a great example of how people who have never met face-to-face can still develop good relationships through blogging and social media. Hopefully, many more will result from this challenge.
Both of your comments were opportunities for me to step back and reassess my goals for this challenge. This challenge wasn’t given to me in a manner like the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai. There was no burning bush, no booming voice, no finger of God.
I don’t think many of us receive our directives from God in that elaborate of a manner. Instead, there was this nagging thought constantly present in my mind asking me if I was sold out to the vision and calling with which had given me. If I was, then where was the tangible proof?
This challenge will be the tangible proof – one way or the other. Thanks for your encouragement, support, and feature my challenge in your post.
Yes in all cases a god idea surpasses any secular good idea!
Please email any info in future
This article was an answer to prayer for me.