MCC - Mueller Community Church

Why Your New Year Resolutions Need not Fail

According to the ABC, the 10 most popular new year resolutions are lose weight, pay off the credit card, quit smoking, donate to charity, keep a diary, learn something new, join a gym, get a promotion, be more courteous, and drink less alcohol. People use these resolutions as a catharsis-to clear away the debris of a year's guilty conscience (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/30/2782519.htm).

However, a British university study has found that making resolutions for a new year is practically pointless. Nearly 80% of people fail their intentions (http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1160197/headline). This failure suggests that there is big intention but little determination. The anomaly with our intentions is that there is great purpose but not much heart even for inherently selfish resolutions.

On the contrary, both purpose and heart are combined in biblical resolutions for the Christian. For example:

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself (Daniel 1:8).

When Barnabas came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord (Acts 11:23).

Each one must give as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Unlike our new year resolutions, these biblical resolutions are unselfish-God, not us is the focus. For Daniel, it was his spiritual fervour for God in an idolatrous environment. For Barnabas, FIDELITY to the Lord was paramount in the hearts of people who has just turned to Him. For the Corinthians, it was management of their FINANCES that required purpose of heart-giving without guilt, distributing to God's causes without duress, relinquishing without regret for the benefit of needy others.

These three biblical resolutions are of infinitely higher value than the 10 most popular. May we pursue them relentlessly in 2010, in the staying power of God's Spirit.