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New
Year's Resolutions or Resignations? |
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Here we are--in the last week
of the year with the joyful memories of Christmas behind us and the promise of
a new year before us. Ezekiel 34:26 says, "...there will be showers of
blessing", and after just receiving the mother-lode of family, friends,
food, and festivities--many of us can indeed be thankful to our very gracious
and giving God for His abundant provision. |
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It's also around this time that
we begin contemplating what new resolutions we should make, what new
beginnings we would like to see. As believers empowered with the Spirit of
God, it's common to have a sense of leading, burden, or conviction for how
the Lord wants to change and grow us to be more fully like Jesus. Maybe yours
is a classic such as losing weight and exercising, or maybe less traditional
but just as compelling like reducing/eliminating debt, consistent devotion in
times of prayer and Bible study, building genuine Christian relationships as
part of a small group, breaking the bondage of cyclical sin, or changing
priorities for how limited time is spread around. While the list can go on
and on, they all have in common the development of whole-life stewardship. |
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But how many times have we (or
someone we know and love) experienced the heights of hope for change on
January 1 followed by the depths of discouragement and resignation on
February 1? Engrained patterns are tough to break...really tough. And in our
own strength, if we're honest, we face near certain defeat as, "our
struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephisians 6:12) We have an
adversary who doesn't want us to grow and mature as Christians. Quite the
contrary, he seeks our destruction. Yet we have hope as the Spirit equips us
to be victorious. In the two immediately preceding verses, Paul reminds us
to, "be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full
armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's
schemes." |
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One of his most alluring schemes
is to have us focus on the blessings from God instead of the Blessor Himself.
It seems so harmless. For example, when trying to improve our diet it's so
easy to "live" for the taste of the food instead of the Giver of
the taste. Or with exercise, it's so tempting to "live" for the
results of feeling and looking healthier instead of for the Creator of our
bodies. While temporarily satisfying, this approach doesn't last--it doesn't
sustain us to long-term consistent stewardship because it's fixated on our
own self-oriented desires. Quite honestly, it can become a subtle form of
idolatry and Satan circles for another victory lap. But when we stay under
the wing of Jesus, fully surrendered and focused on offering ourselves to the
Blessor instead of taking the blessing, we have the sustained strength to
succeed where once we failed. |
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So should we enjoy God's
blessings? Absolutely enjoy them as they're from His good hand. Yet our minds
and hearts are always willing to subordinate them, to place them in the
backseat behind the faithful Giver of our blessings--Jesus Christ! We
"live" for Him. |
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Happy New Years! |
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The Stewardship Commission |
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