One of the games my wife and I have played at home from time to time is checkers. While the game is much less sophisticated, intellectually challenging and time consuming than chess, it still requires a similar skill -- strategic thinking. Consistent winners are strategic in their thoughts and actions. They think through the positive and negative implications of their moves BEFORE they make them. A strategic checker or chess player is always several steps down the road in their mind. They know where they are going and how they are going to get there. Each move is appropriately considered in the light of the desired end result.
What is strategic thinking? Thinking is strategic when it goes after long-term goals and advances. Thinking is strategic when it focuses on a bigger picture and a greater purpose. Thinking is strategic when it involves moving toward a positive plan for the future.
The opposite of strategic thinking is short term thinking. Short-term thinkers yield to the wants, desires and pressures of the immediate at the expense of the truly important. They are unwilling to invest spiritual, mental and emotional effort and energies in considering the implications of their decisions, actions or attitudes for the future -- their future.
One of the saddest examples of non-strategic thinking is seen in the story of a man in the Bible named Esau. His short-term mindset cost him his destiny. (Read the full story in Genesis 25:27-34.)
The New Testament writer of Hebrews reminded Christian believers of the tragedy of Esau’s poor strategy:
Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. -- Hebrews 12:16 (Message)
Esau’s failure should cause us to stop and think about the way we are living our lives. All of us sacrifice certain possibilities and potential for our tomorrows when we fail to think and live strategically today.
Living strategically starts with a goal. In the personal realm, it involves identifying and defining the kind of person we want to become in character and skill in the next one, five or ten years, and setting in motion the decisions and disciplines that are required to get us there. It involves getting rid of habits, behaviors and attitudes that are robbing us of our spiritual, mental, emotional and relational potential, no matter how deep-seated they are or comfortable we are with them.
Living strategically is the right way to live.
By the way, going back to the checker games with my wife, she usually wins!
Pastor Dale
