New Year’s ResolutionsIt is nearing January 1, 2008. Every year, we get revved up with “personal improvement” projects as the dawn of a new year approaches. Have you made your New Year’s resolutions yet? For most of us, the resolutions include losing weight, exercising, spending more time with our family, etc. According to many research studies, resolutions are not kept for very long. In no time flat, those lofty goals and noble commitments evaporate and are forgotten. In fact, one study I read said that fewer than 10% of all New Year’s resolutions are actually kept.
According to RIS Media, the Top 10 Resolutions are:
The Top 10 New Year’s resolutions or goals were ranked as follows:
1. Get out of debt or save money
2. Lose weight
3. Develop a healthy habit (e.g., exercise or healthy eating)
4. Get organized
5. Develop a new skill or talent
6. Spend more time with family and friends
7. Other
8. Work less, play more
9. Break an unhealthy habit (e.g., smoking, alcohol, overeating)
10. Change employment
Can we extend our resolutions to spiritual goals, also? We should! Setting goals is important. Too often, however, we set goals for ourselves — whether we call them “New Year’s resolutions” or some other name — without any real plan for reaching them. Sometimes the goals themselves are unrealistic: telling myself I’m going to be elected President this year would be rather fruitless for a host of reasons. But more often, we fail to accurately assess what will be required to achieve our goals, including the effort and commitment involved.
Jesus taught an important lesson on this subject:
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
“Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:28-33).
The Lord’s point is that even the greatest goal — such as being a servant of Christ — is doomed to ruin if it’s not supported with the necessary resources. Deciding “I want to be a Christian” today does me little good if tomorrow I say, “This is too hard — I think I’ll quit.” Better not to make the commitment at all than to renege on a promise to God to be faithful to Him: “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth” (Deuteronomy 23:21-23).
Will the new year be a happy one? It may or may not be. It depends on your attitude and actions.
From the Main Street Family, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
~ Rob
Can we extend our resolutions to spiritual goals, also? We should! Setting goals is important. Too often, however, we set goals for ourselves — whether we call them “New Year’s resolutions” or some other name — without any real plan for reaching them. Sometimes the goals themselves are unrealistic: telling myself I’m going to be elected President this year would be rather fruitless for a host of reasons. But more often, we fail to accurately assess what will be required to achieve our goals, including the effort and commitment involved.
Jesus taught an important lesson on this subject:
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it — lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’
“Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:28-33).
The Lord’s point is that even the greatest goal — such as being a servant of Christ — is doomed to ruin if it’s not supported with the necessary resources. Deciding “I want to be a Christian” today does me little good if tomorrow I say, “This is too hard — I think I’ll quit.” Better not to make the commitment at all than to renege on a promise to God to be faithful to Him: “When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you. But if you abstain from vowing, it shall not be sin to you. That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth” (Deuteronomy 23:21-23).
Will the new year be a happy one? It may or may not be. It depends on your attitude and actions.
From the Main Street Family, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
~ Rob
3 comments:
Enjoy reading your Church of Christ blog-- where is Walnut Ridge?
Walnut Ridge is located in northeasy Arkansas. We are about 70 miles northwest of Memphis and about 30 miles from Jonesboro. Come and visit the area sometime. We are friendly!
good article
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