Resolutions

By Joe Slater

     According to statistica.com, the three most common New Year’s Resolutions for 2018 were these:
           1) Eat healthier
           2) Get more exercise
           3) Save more money
Many (most?) of us would probably do well to heed all three in 2020!
     Christians’ New Year’s resolutions usually focus on more regular Bible reading, prayer, and church attendance. Is there some correlation between those and the three from the web site?
     Yes, we can feed our souls a healthier diet with more Bible reading and much less “junk food” that has no spiritual value. We should strive to be “nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed” (1 Timothy 4:6). God’s word contains both “milk” and “solid food” (1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:12-14). Bon appétit!
     What happens when you eat but don’t exercise? (Flabby is not healthy!) Even more crucial is spiritual exercise. “. . . Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (1 Tim. 4:7, 8). That includes prayer and church attendance, but involves far more. Do we mean it when we sing, “We’ll work till Jesus comes”?
     Now, what about saving more money? God has much to say about money – how we obtain it, how we spend it, and whether we trust in it. Saving is wise: “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it” (Prov. 21:20). But hoarding is sinful (see the parable of the rich fool, Luke 12:13-21). Our challenge: Find the right balance! Let’s be more concerned about saving our souls than saving money!

- Joe Slater serves as minister of the Church of Christ in Justin, TX. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://justinchurchofchrist.com