Are Goals Always Good?

Our society is well versed on the need to “plan our work and work our plan.” The apostle Paul said, “This one thing I do: forgetting the past and anticipating the future, I press toward the mark…” (Philippians 3:13). James said a double-minded person is unstable and should never expect to receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6–8). Apparently, goals are good.
Jonah tells about his flight in pursuit of his goal, not God’s. Balaam sought a king’s reward in speaking against Israel, and God finally said, “Go ahead,” but an angel was sent to stand in his path, sword drawn, ready to kill him (Numbers 22:20–30).
Balaam was so intent upon his goal, he beat his donkey when it refused to move forward. After the donkey spoke to him, Balaam answered without hesitation, so concerned about his destination that he couldn’t see where he was. If he had, he would have asked why a donkey was talking to him.
Maybe we need to rethink the importance of our goals.
Sometimes I remind myself that God is smarter than I am, and he wants the best for me. That being true, my logic must admit I’d be cheating myself if I got what I wanted when God wanted something else.
In pursuit of “the high calling of God” (Philippians 3:13), the apostle Paul suffered imprisonment, beatings, and shipwreck. Yet he said, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).
Could it be that goals are only good when we strive to fulfill God’s desire above ours?