It’s the start of a new year and everyone is thinking about their resolutions and goals, their ambitions and dreams, their diet and their exercise.
Even if you don’t set any official resolutions, a new year affords us all a moment to review the last year (was it good, bad or indifferent?) and to look ahead – how do I invest my time, money, passions and relationships wisely in 2017 to ensure I make the most of the year? How can I change old habits, take more risks, grow as a person and ensure I don’t stagnate?
So on Sunday 8th January we will start with a new five week series called Invest, where we will look at what we should invest in and how we can invest well in 2017 to ensure we make the most of the year. Do check out this blog post to learn more about the series and two seminars we’ll be running. But for now, as we start the new year let me encourage you to think about three things as you plan for 2017.
(1) Set humble and loosely held goals
If we really believed God is in charge of the universe and holding everything together (Colossians 1:17 and Hebrews 1:3), then not only would we worry and obsess about the future much less, we’d also make plans much more humbly and hold them more loosely. It’s good to make plans, and think about the trajectory of your life, but it’s not good to do it in such a way that you replace any need of dependence on and guidance from God, and (dare I say it!) interruption of those plans by God.
When the Apostle Paul made plans he often added the caveat “if the Lord wills” (Acts 18:21, 1 Corinthians 4:18-19, 1 Corinthians 16:6-7), which is his way of saying: “with my wisdom and discernment I think it is best to do xyz and I’ll plan to do that… but my wisdom and discernment is so limited and small, that if the infinitely wise, all-seeing and all-knowing God should choose differently, I am cool with that.”
Read how James the brother of Jesus put it once (James 4:13-17):
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
Or take note of Proverbs 16:9 and 19:21 which say:
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
So set personal goals and make some plans to hit them, but be humble about them, hold them loosely and trust that God will ultimate guide your steps. If you’re interested to learn more about this come along to our decision making seminar on the 29th January after the service.
(2) Focus on internal rather than external change
This is a big one! Our world is obsessed with externals: the way you look and dress, the social circles you walk in and the job you have, the number of friends you have on Facebook and the amount of money you have, etc. All that ‘beauty’ and all that ‘glory’ is fading and will one day go. Take note of what the Apostle Peter says (1 Peter 3:3-4):
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
It’s not that outward adornment and jewellery are bad, it’s just that they are not where real beauty is found… beauty that never fades. So in 2017 invest in your character and make friends with people of character; and if you’re choosing a prospective partner, choose them based on their character and faith.
(3) Remember the eternal perspective
This links with points 1 and 2, but it’s helpful to elaborate a bit more. There are so many things that seem important to us now, that the world and Hollywood and social media are telling us (shouting at us!) are important, but they’re not. When you feel the squeeze of the world, and the internal desire arises to fit into its mould, you need to think about eternity and how knowing that we are all going to live for millions of years changes the decisions we make now.
I am not talking about ‘being so heavenly minded that you are of no earthly use’, but I am talking about ‘being so driven by heaven’s agenda and the future joy we await, that we maximise our earthly lives now for that agenda and in view of that joy’. As Christians we understand that we will NOT get instant gratification now; we will need to deny ourselves, take up our cross and choose the narrow path of obedience. And although that path seems strange and inhibiting to the world, it is really the path of freedom and joy, and it’s the path that leads to eternal life.
Make decisions in 2017 with eternity in mind. The Apostle Paul put it like this in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
So there are three principles for you to think over, and we’ll be thinking more about these things in our five week Invest series.
I hope 2017 proves to be a very fruitful year for you. If you are looking to grow and develop as a person and to discover and use your gifts more effectively then do consider signing up for our 6.30 Leadership course.
