The New Year

Given December 30, 2017

OK, here we go again, time to do the resolution thing for the upcoming year. A survey by today.yougov.com found the following of what people plan to do:

Eat better — 37 percentExercise more — 37 percent
Spend less money — 37 percent
Self-care (e.g. getting more sleep) — 24 percent
Read more books —18 percent
Learn a new skill — 15 percent
Get a new job — 14 percent
Make new friends — 13 percent
New hobby — 13 percent
Focus more on appearance — 12 percent

I was thinking of how that would compare or contrast with a Christian’s resolution list and found this Top 5 list of resolutions suggested for Christians:

Read the Bible daily
Dedicate time for prayer
Go to church regularly
Do more to help people
Drop bad habits

It’s a good thing to write down your plans, dreams, and things you want to focus on in order to keep them before your eyes daily.  But as I was thinking about this scenario, a scripture came to my mind: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).  Might I make a suggestion?  As you make out your list of resolutions for 2018, why don’t you put this verse at the top? Jesus is saying to put God first and all the things below will fall into place.  It sounds like a good plan to me.   Have a happy, blessed, healthy, prosperous, generous, peaceful, productive, prayerful and pleasing-to-God New Year!