The Resolution of All Resolutions

Many people see the New Year as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf, and so the first of the year becomes a time to set goals and make resolutions.

Have you made any resolutions for 2016? Most resolutions focus on the here and now and few address eternal matters. While it is beneficial to give some focus to strengthening our physical bodies, it should not come at the cost of neglecting our eternal souls. We must not create a to-do list of projects to improve our houses, while failing to consider how we will sow into our heavenly dwelling places.

It is natural and good to set short-term goals. However, most of these temporal goals have very little eternal value. In addition to setting these short-term goals, we must stop and consider life from an eternal perspective. Are we seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, or are we too preoccupied with our daily goals to invest in eternity?

"When we commit our resolutions and resources now to the ministry of the Gospel, we impact lives for eternity."

It is easy to become distracted by earthly concerns. It is easy to focus on the daily details of life what to wear, what to eat, and what to drink. However, Jesus reassures us that "your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first [God's] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:32-33). When we focus on the eternal, God provides for the temporal.

This is a teaching that is very counter-cultural today as many believers focus on building a successful life and legacy here on earth. Yet Jesus tells us, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:19-21). There is no better place for our hearts to be than resting in the promise of our eternal home in Christ.

God is certainly not against the wise management of His resources and certainly desires us to be discerning in their use, that we might be a blessing to others. The issue arises when earthly treasure becomes our ultimate security and the measure of our worth. When this happens, we see our wealth, possessions, and gifts as our own rather than on loan from God. We do not allow what we have been given to flow freely through our hands to others in need.

When we commit our resolutions and resources now to the ministry of the Gospel, we impact lives for eternity. In this life, we will never know the full impact we have had on others. We may never know if a person we witnessed to ever committed himself to Christ or the true impact of the resources we gave to spread the Gospel. We may never experience firsthand on earth the impact we have as a Bible study teacher, a small group leader, or a nursery worker. But we will in heaven. In heaven, we will meet those people who learned of God's love because we focused first on the Kingdom of God.

Are there earthly concerns distracting you from eternal matters? The New Year is an excellent time to make a commitment to pray each day for God's help to stay focused on the Kingdom of God and His righteousness the resolution of all resolutions.

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