What are the most important goals to set and reach in life—the material or the spiritual?
The mortal mind, in its erroneous belief that matter is substance, sets material goals and believes they are the most important attainments. How to get more money, eat the right food, exercise the body, and related ambitions, often dominate thought and attention. And in the process, spiritual goals get pushed aside and even seen as getting in the way of progress.
But the mortal mind is shortsighted. It leaves one empty handed in the end of its quest for success, and discovers the hard way that real substance does not reside in material gain. It is found in God, the sum and substance of everything that is important and meaningful.
So, set yourself up for success early on. Set spiritual goals and stretch for them. It’s wisdom, creativity, receptivity, fresh insight, trust, faith, truth and love that bring you real gain. They come directly from God in abundance, and they meet every human need. Jesus understood this truth when he said,
“Don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Thank you Evan, what a wonderful reminder where our real source of supply is.
Also it reminds us which goals to choose and which are worth stretching for them.
Of course they are the spiritual ones consisting of all the rich qualities,
Evan just mentioned here.
And how freeing is what Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-33 that God already knows everything we need, and we get it naturally and effortless from our heavenly Father – thank you Father!
The only true and real goals are compassion and service to mankind
Tyke…. so good to read your comment.
We are definitely of like Mind ….
This is truly the result of
deep spiritual work and
discovery….
Thank you
Yes, thats quite right what you said, thank you Tyke. And that is fulfilled with all the precious qualities, Evan stated in today`s SV, and there are plenty more which are to serve mankind 🙂
“What I most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, [gratitude] and good deeds.”
(Not an exact quote but modified to meet my specific needs.)
I found that stating ones goal is helpful for establishing commitment to that goal. My goal is to let the sunshine of truth shine out from my experiences to others by quietly expressing what I know to be true in our lives that “in him we live and breath and have our being.’ Thank you Evan for this inspiring post to make a daily commitment to spiritual living.
Gratitude is the
blossom smell
Left behind
When God touches
our heart and mind
Thank you Evan. Just last night I came across the following paragraph from Science and Health, pg 312:1:
“How true it is that whatever is learned through material sense must be lost because such so-called knowledge is reversed by the spiritual facts of being in Science. That which material sense calls intangible, is found to be substance. What to material sense seems substance, becomes nothingness, as the sense-dream vanishes and reality appears.”
That’s a great definition of spiritual goal setting, isn’t it? For example,
– I can stop focusing on how much “money” I have and instead focus on God’s spiritual idea of “supply” which always perfectly meets every need.
– I can stop dwelling in a “material body” and instead understand true “identity” as a reflection of God that dwells in Mind and expresses health, generosity, patience, love, purpose, etc.
– I can stop limiting happiness by thinking it is dependent on a material “person”, “place”, or “thing” and realize the ever presence of God – Life, Truth, Love – right here, right now, and experience the joy of heaven immediately.
In other words, as we refute the communication that seems to be coming from material sense with what we know to be true about God and His idea, we can experience God’s reality right now. The “goal” is already available to us to be experienced now!
Amen! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks everyone for sharing! There is so much inspiration to gain from reading the different comments you all offer.
Thanks to you all today! Setting spiritual goals is surely seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, and everything else plays out in a harmonious way. Our needs are met, whatever they are—finances, friendship, fitness, health—because we let God govern us as His creation. If we turn to Him for guidance, we will be lead to do the right thing at the right time to bring out the right result.
Thank you all. Daphne, so true what you said – “If we turn to Him for guidance, we will be lead to do the right thing at the right time to bring out the right result.” Has been true many, many times in my life.
Thank you for all the people who bring good into our lives, particulary at the present as we appear to need them. all our needs are more than met and continue to be met for God is our source.
Love Sally