Will goal setting or seed sowing produce the promises of God?

Late one night, I found myself fixated on the television, flipping through channels in search of something interesting to watch. Suddenly, I came across a televangelist preaching his message to viewers. As I watched, I couldn't help but notice how he was targeting the desperate and scripturally untrained, offering them hope through empty promises. His words were nothing more than a sales pitch aimed at making money rather than helping people. It was a disturbing sight, making me wonder how many people have fallen victim to such schemes.

He asserts that donating $58 monthly to his ministry over the next year will attract God's blessing. However, Ephesians 1:3-4 states that believers are already blessed. He also claims that donating $1000 will earn a special blessing from God. As I listened to this preacher, who bore a resemblance to the money changers Jesus expelled from the temple, I wondered why he portrayed giving money as a means to secure instant financial rewards from God.

Many preachers persuade their followers that donating money to their ministries will lead to miraculous outcomes. They promise that by simply sowing money and patiently waiting, people will receive what they desire—such as a new job, a car, a house, or an ideal partner. However, let's be honest. Who besides these preachers is actually experiencing such extraordinary benefits? It's crucial to understand that sowing seeds will not give you an education, job skills, or the qualities of a good future partner.

Why are these church leaders misleading people into thinking that sowing money will bring a truckload of benefits? Sowing seeds must be paired with preparation, which includes setting goals for your future. Scripture says every seed produces after its kind, so why would you sow $1000 into someone's ministry to find a spouse? If you sow money, shouldn't you expect to receive money in return, rather than a human being?

Dear friends, please listen carefully to what I am about to say. There is no biblical support for the extreme claims made by specific individuals. I want to highlight that God is a God of order, and before blessing you, He prepares you through challenges and difficulties. These serve as opportunities to apply God's word and wisdom, rather than relying solely on your own strength. This process conditions you for the promises God has made. For example, God will not bless someone with a million dollars if they cannot handle one hundred dollars. If you give $1000 to someone's ministry but struggle to manage your finances wisely, it could be akin to fueling bad habits with resources. Your financial breakthrough might be delayed because you need to better manage your current resources.

Let's examine this Scripture more closely: "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you because you obey the voice of the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 28:1). First, it is crucial to understand that God's blessings are not acquired through money. Instead, this passage clearly indicates that blessings will only come when we diligently follow the Lord's voice and carefully keep all His commandments, which He has given us. The purpose of obeying His commandments is to prepare us for the blessings that are already in store.

"My friend, it's important to set goals that align with what God has already put in place. This may seem counterintuitive to some teachings that focus on giving to receive a breakthrough, but hear me out. What is a goal? It's an aim or objective towards which you direct your efforts. It's a standard that you strive to reach or attain. Let's see what God says about goals and how it provokes Him to intervene in our lives. Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." This means that when you set goals to achieve certain things, God will intervene and guide you towards the right path."

Goal setting indicates that you have a plan or a vision in place. It's not just about wanting a miracle or a breakthrough, but rather having a detailed plan of action to ensure that you never end up in a position of lack again. Have you ever heard a preacher advise their congregants to begin educating themselves before sowing their seed so that when God blesses them with a good job, they'll be prepared to handle it? Or suggest that they change their bad habits and nasty attitude before sowing their seed, so that when God blesses them with a spouse, they'll know how to keep and maintain that relationship? Unfortunately, you won't hear this kind of advice from most preachers. Instead, you'll listen to, "Sow your seed if you want a husband or wife or a financial breakthrough." There is often a need for guidance on preparing and setting goals that align with and appreciate the blessings they claim you'll receive.

Another scripture tells us, "The preparation of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue is from the Lord" (Proverbs 16:1). This Scripture further proves that God values preparation and goal-setting before bestowing blessings. This is because God is a God of order and wants you to be well-equipped to receive and manage His blessings. The Scripture goes on to say that if we commit our WORKS, not our MONEY, to the Lord, He will establish or prepare our thoughts (Proverbs 16:3). This suggests that if your goal is to be debt-free, then you should commit your efforts towards achieving this goal to God, and He will prepare your thoughts to bring it to fruition.

"The benefits of following God's plan for our lives are clear. Scripture says, 'The steps of a good man/woman are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.' (Psalm 37:23-24). This means that when we walk in the path God has carved out for us, we will experience His divine blessings and protection, even when we face challenges."

"It's important to understand that God wants to guide you towards your provisions or your promised land. However, you shouldn't place your confidence in those who claim to be anointed by God to make you prosper by giving them money. Instead, you should consciously put your faith, belief, hope, trust, and expectation in the word of God. By doing this, God will not only direct your path but also guide you to the provisions he has in place for you already, Proverbs 3:5-6

Scripture clearly says, "We must trust in the Lord (not Charlatans) and do good so that we shall dwell in the land and be fed (needs being met), and if we delight ourselves in his counsel for our lives, he promises to grant us the desires of our hearts, Psalm 37:3-4. Set your goals, and commit your works for those goals unto God, and not only will he direct you on how to get there, but he will give you the desire of your heart as you rejoice in following his directions.


Kevin L A Ewing
ewinglakevin@icloud.com

kevinlaewing.blogspot.com 

www.kevinlaewing.com