Setting Goals (Part 4)

This post will suggest some social goals that you may want to consider adopting for yourself.

Before reflecting on social goals you may want to review the three preview posts related to setting goals: Setting Your Personal Goals for 2015, Without Goals You Have Nothing to Shoot For, and Getting Started writing Your Goals.

In the last post we looked at goals that will help you grow in your relationship with God.  This post will focus on goals that will help you grow in your relationships with others.

As in previous posts, we will use Scripture as the resource for suggested goals. There are many references in Scripture that we could use.  I selected ten scripture passages for your consideration.

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 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12 ESV)

•  Treat others the way you want to be treated. (The Golden Rule)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 ESV)

•  Help others get through tough times.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10 ESV)

• Do good for others in need.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

• Be kind, compassionate, thoughtful, reasonable, gentle, and forgiving in your relationships with others.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)

• Don’t act selfishly. Be concerned for the interests of others.

 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. (1 Peter 2:1 ESV)

• Recognize and understand the destructive nature of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander and avoid using any form of these behaviors when relating to others.

 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9 ESV)

• Do not retaliate when people insult or offend you; rather respond in a way that will diffuse any anger or hostility that may exist.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1 ESV)

• Respond thoughtfully, practicing self-control, with a soft answer when dealing with people who are angry, upset, hurt, or frightened.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, …. (1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV)

• Say or do things that will encourage and build others up.

…  aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, (1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV)

• Mind your own business.

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 Suggested social goals for 2015:

• I will try to practice The Golden Rule.

• I will look for opportunities to help others get through tough times.

• I will look for opportunities to do good for others in need.

• My desire is to be kind, compassionate, thoughtful, reasonable, gentle, and forgiving in my relationships with others.

• I will try not to act selfishly, but rather to be concerned for the interests of others.

• I will try to recognize and understand the destructive nature of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander and avoid using any form of these behaviors when relating to others.

• I will try not retaliate when people insult or offend me; rather I will attempt to respond in a way that will diffuse any anger or hostility that may exist.

• I will attempt to respond thoughtfully, practicing self-control, with a soft answer when dealing with people who are angry, upset, hurt, or frightened.

• I will say or do things to encourage and build others up.

• I will mind my own business.

Without goals you have nothing to shoot for.

 Check out www.seekinghiskingdomministries.com for additional posts.