Resolutions to Keep

Introduction

Perhaps making resolutions for the new year isn’t something that you do. Some of you have already. Maybe your resolution sounds like this: In 2011, “I will get my weight down below 180 pounds.” In 2012, “I will follow my new diet religiously until I get below 200 pounds.” In 2013, “I will develop a realistic attitude about my weight.” In 2014, “I will work out 3 days a week.” In 2015, “I will try to drive past a gym at least once a week.”

In a recently published article from the University of Scranton, here are the top 10 resolutions for 2014: lose weight, get organized, spend less and save more, enjoy life to the fullest, stay fit, learn something exciting, quit smoking, help others in pursuing their dreams, fall in love, and spend more time with family.

Any of these fit you? The Scranton article went on to explain that 45% will make resolutions; 17% infrequently make them and 38% never make them. People in their 20s tend to do better than those who are in the 50s. But here is the kicker—about 50% partially succeed and only 8% succeed. If you are one of those that tries to make resolutions and within a few weeks find that you haven’t kept them, you are not alone. Whether you have made resolutions for 2015 or you are part of the large group that doesn’t make resolutions, today’s lesson is for you. While these are not exhaustive, we are going to look at three resolutions that are worth keeping.

Three Resolutions

First, see the world. I’m not speaking about traveling. I am suggesting that we take to heart the intent of God that we look at the world through the eyes of God. Listen to 2 Peter 1:3-9—God’s power has allowed us to participate in the divine nature. As John says in 1 John 4:17, in this world we are like him. This participation in the divine nature or being like Jesus in this world Peter goes on to say results in our growing and maturing. As we grow we become more effective in this world. But if we are not growing then in verse 9 we are nearsighted. Peter uses a word from which we get our word “myopia.” Do you suffer from myopia? Myopia is near-sightedness or in Britain it is called “short-sightedness.” It is a physical condition in which objects close up are clear but objects far away are blurry. But there is also another definition of myopia that is based on the physical limitation. A person who is myopic is able to see up close well but the person cannot see the big picture.

We see our world in a very small way. Life is lived through our own eyes. We see what affects us. Everything is personal. We are myopic. Peter says that only those who are growing and maturing in the divine power and nature of God will be able to see the world.

Being myopic is not a good condition either physically or spiritually. In order to see the world, we must be able to see the bigger picture. Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 5:14ff that Christ’s love motivates us. He died for all and so we no longer live for ourselves but we live for Christ who died for us and was raised from the dead.

So we no long regard everyone from a world point of view. We see the world. It is much larger than self. When we see the world as Christ sees it then we understand that every person Jesus wants to save. We give mercy because we have received mercy. We avoid taking offenses personally but try to understand that the world is bigger than us. This world is full of selfish people who are myopic—they see only their world. Let’s see the world as God sees it.

Second, lend an ear. James 1:19 puts it this way—be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. Learn to listen to others before you speak. Listening to others is not easy. As we have seen in terms of how we see, we also tend to hear through selfish ears or we do not hear at all. We just go through the formalities of listening without really listening. Steve Farrar in his book “Anchor Man” tells the story about FDR. How do we really listen to another person—really be interested. There is a real blessing in listening to others.

But it isn’t about you being blessed, it is about blessing the one who speaks. When a person is really heard relationships improve. To really listen to a person means to hear not just the words but the intent behind the words. It is to hear uncertainty when they complain; it is to hear fear when they speak of worry; it is to hear pain when they speak in anger; it is to hear the cry for something more when they speak of wanting more.

Will you take the time to really listen to others? Will you open your heart to hear more than the words?

Third, encourage more. Some of you are very good at this already. Others of us need to work on it more. We are told in Acts 4:36 that Barnabas’ name means “son of encourager” and he lived up to his name. He encouraged those early believers through selling property to help with expenses. He vouched for Paul when others only saw him as a persecutor of the believers. And although it cost him a friendship, he supported John Mark when he became discouraged on a mission trip believing that John Mark had changed enough that he was worth a second try. Rarely do people say anything about needing encouragement, but everyone does at one time or another. Few people are like the little boy who wanted to spend time with his dad. “Let’s play darts. I’ll throw and you say ‘wonderful.’”

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14 that part of the function of the body of Christ is to build one another up. At the end of 1 Thessalonians, Paul instructs his readers to encourage each other and to build each other up. The Hebrew writer says that we are to encourage one another to love more. This extends beyond our fellow believers. Paul writes in Romans 15:2 that we are to build up our neighbors as well.

Spend more time thinking of ways to encourage. Be positive in your speech. Be more willing to give a hug or simple touch when such is welcome. Write a note to someone who needs it.

It was 1961. Her name was Jean Nidetch. She had a problem. She weighed 214 pounds and she couldn’t lose weight. She had tried and tried with only modest results. She had talked with a doctor. She had gone to the NYC department of health for help. After two months of faithfully adhering to a diet she had lost 20 pounds but she was deeply discouraged. So she called 6 friends. Her friends not only understood, they shared their “Frankensteins” too, as Jean called their food obsessions. After that, the women came to Jean’s house each week for mutual support and sharing. They all lost weight, and the word spread. Soon, Jean was squeezing 40 people into her apartment. Together, they came to realize that losing weight was more than just a diet. It was all about changing habits and getting support and encouragement from people who cared. Today Weight Watchers has over 1 million members who attend more than 29,000 meetings each week in 27 countries.

Life is easier when shared. That is what encouragement does. Prayer. Invitation.

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