Can we strive to reach new heights or will we just continue as usual?
Scripture reading: Deuteronomy 15:1-11. Text: “Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” Psalm 51:12.
As we start this New Year could we take a three-steps challenge? You may not feel the need for the third step, however, please think of December 31st the day when we look back at the past twelve months; what our spiritual and moral balance sheets show? What is the difference between our thinking on January 1st and on December 31st? Will we look back with joy and thanksgiving or sadness and regret?
The TRADITIONAL – New Year’s resolution.
This is quite individual and personal. As we turn the calendar over, everybody considers what could be discarded, changed, or improved. We have good intentions to make the ensuing year better than what we left behind. The question is perseverance. Eventually which one will win – the noble desire to change or the old habit to continue? From a higher viewpoint, will it be sufficient that only a few people will keep their New Year resolutions but the majority will remain the same? Is an individual totally isolated from the family, working place, and the society? Is it easy to give up smoking when people around still smoke?
The USUAL – New Year’s expectation.
Most of us like to look ahead at the beginning of the New Year with uplifting hope, good intention, and a prayerful spirit for a peaceful, progressive, and prosperous New Year.
I think we are close to the truth as we briefly summarize our expectations:
– in our individual life we wish to be blessed with happiness and joy,
– in our family life we hope to have health and harmony,
– in our social life we wish to maintain peace and security,
– in business and economy we wish to achieve profit and success,
– at the work place we hope for fairness and cooperation.
You may add more to these blessings and gifts and we wish and hope whatever you expect concerning the New Year will be given or achieved.
The EXCEPTIONAL – New Year’s obligation.
In order to see clearly the New Year obligations we should ask ourselves first what freedom means to us. Are we entirely free, can we do whatever we wish? Does our citizenship guarantee rights and privileges and should they not be associated with commitments? Is not keeping things in BALANCE an important and undeniable law in our life? Is it possible to receive more from LIFE than we have invested in it?
We should not only see but also accept and honor the unwritten laws of LIFE that these couples should be in balance: work and compensation – freedom and commitment – rights and privileges – authority and responsibility – love and disappointment – joy and sorrow – sacrifice and success – peace and vigilance – wealth and sharing – leniency and discipline – and last but not least, following Christ and receiving divine blessing.
The legislated law is written, must be observed, and the law-breakers could be prosecuted and punished; however, for many non-Christian people their obligations in the spiritual and moral life are nowhere spelled out, they have no supervising agency, and when they ignore obligations, often there are no immediate serious consequences. Please keep in mind that in the spiritual and moral life, balance is not the same as in physics where on both sides there should be exactly the same amount.
At the beginning of the New Year please ask yourself what will be your newly realized obligations toward God, as well as toward your family, society, employer, and country? God does not oblige you to trust in Him but if that is the case, you should not expect Him to be gracious and forgiving. Christ’s life concerning suffering seems to be uneven but Good Friday and Easter are in balance as we see together the cruelty of the cross and the victory of the empty tomb.
Here is a verse on which to focus for spiritual balance: “‘Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.'” Revelation 2:10/c.