Introduction
It’s common during this time of year for folks to plan for the future and start anew. According to the Chicago Tribune, (Mark Silva, “New Years’ Resolutions: Uh, Never Mind”, December 29, 2008) The top three New Years’ resolutions were losing weight, quitting some form of nasty habit, and spending less money. However, the forth resolution is what I’m interested with this evening. The forth most popular New Years’ resolution this year is to “be a better person”.
That’s the same message Paul had for the church of Ephesus that we heard read a moment ago. He said to make the best use of your time, understand the Lord’s will, encourage one another, and to thank God for all things. Another way to look at this is to set your priorities, be positive in your attitude and work to foster your relationships, all for the glory of God.
Set your priorities straight
Paul spoke of this same theme in his letter to the Philippians and addressed these ideas as (Philippians 3:13 ESV), "this one thing I do." Now he obviously did more than one thing. He made tents. He preached sermons and established churches. He healed the sick. He wrote letters. He did a lot of different things.
But he said, "The top priority in my life is to press on toward the goal for the prize for which God has called me." He set this as his number one goal.
A while back an expert on the subject of time management was speaking to a group of business students. After speaking to them for a while, he said, “Okay, it’s time for a quiz.” He set a one-gallon, wide mouthed jar on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them in the jar, one at a time. When it was filled to the top, and no more rocks would fit inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class said, “Yes.”
“Really?” he said. Then he reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of pebbles. He dumped some of the pebbles into the jar and shook it, causing the small stones to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks. Then he smiled and asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them said.
“Good!” he replied. And he reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand in and it filled all the spaces between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked, “Is this jar full?” “No!” the class shouted. Again he said, “Good!” Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour in the water until the jar was filled to the brim.
Then he looked back at the class and asked, “What’s the point of this illustration?” One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit something more into it!”
“No,” the speaker replied, “that’s not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is this: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”
Sometimes we like to think of our lives are being able to fit anything and everything in. So, we try to fit it all in. In the process, sometimes we don’t get around to completing what we wanted to get done. But, priorities are just like those big rocks. If we don’t place our important events and goals at the top of our priorities, we may not be able to get them done at all.
We all have big rocks in our lives. What are yours? They should include these: each day drawing nearer to God, spending time with Him in prayer, and seeking His guidance for your life through reading His Word. Remember to put these big rocks in first or you’ll never get them in at all.
It was Jesus who said in Matthew 6:33 (ESV), "seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (adopted from Melvin Newland, “Facing the New Year”, http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=34090&Sermon FACING THE NEW YEAR by MELVIN NEWLAND)
Jesus made it clear that the kingdom of God was to be at the top of our priorities. Things such as worship, prayer, reading scripture as well as taking care of our fellow men and women should be right at the beginning of that list. Paul described it this way in his letter to the Philippians. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8 ESV) This is where our priorities should be set for the upcoming year.
Cultivate a positive outlook
Paul showed that there is more to life than just prioritizing what we do with our time and resources. It’s also how we look at things that determines what we will accomplish.
If we focus on events of the past, we may lose sight of the future. Don’t focus on what’s behind you. You can’t change that. Instead, focus on where you want to be, what you want to accomplish and where you want to go. Look to the honorable, pure and commendable things.
Focusing on the positive aspects of where we can lead our lives, can lead to wonderful things. Without changing the events themselves, a positive attitude can change how you perceive those events. It can also affect those around you. A negative attitude seems to fuel other negative attitudes. But, a positive attitude can change the mood of an environment and help build progress towards our goals and priorities as well as encourage those around you.
There’s an old story about a happy little boy who went out into the field wearing a baseball cap. In one hand he carried a baseball, and in the other a baseball bat. His face bore a look of tremendous confidence.
Cocking his bat, he tossed the ball into the air, saying, "I’m the greatest batter in the world!" Then he swung and missed. "Strike one," he said.
He picked up the ball, examined it, and then threw it into the air again. As he swung, he repeated, "I’m the greatest batter in the world." Once again he missed. "Strike two," he said.
This time, he stopped to examine his bat to make sure there wasn’t a hole in it. Then he picked up the ball, adjusted his cap, and tossed the ball into the air for the third time.
He repeated again, "I’m the greatest batter in the world," and swung with all his might and missed for the 3rd straight time. "Wow" he cried, "What a pitcher. I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!" (Illustration from Melvin Newland, “Facing the New Year”, http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=34090&Sermon FACING THE NEW YEAR by MELVIN NEWLAND)
If this happy boy had focused on batting, he might have been disappointed . But, instead of focusing on the negative, he chose to focus on the positive. He focused on what was pure, noble and honorable. His positive attitude allowed him to focus on the good. If we were to do the same, how much happier would we be with our lives? If we focused on our successes, how much more could we accomplish?
Forgive and give up your grudges, build relationships
Building on those honorable things; focusing our priorities and keeping a positive attitude, we can help build relationship with those all around us.
Many of you know that I recently visited Rome. While there, I saw the place where Paul was imprisoned. In a small underground stone room about 15 feet in diameter, no heat, little light, uncomfortable in every way, Paul wrote these positive words of encouragement to the church in Colosse. In Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV) he wrote:
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”
Paul’s priority was to teach the church how to act. He focused on the honorable things with pure motives. If we lived by only those words, think about how much easier it would be to do virtually everything. If we dropped our disagreements, and worked out our differences, wouldn’t it be easier to get along? How would we deal with our neighbors, friends and loved ones? What about subordinates, co-workers and superiors? Wouldn’t cooperation be the norm? Wouldn’t friendship be a standard?
Based on these words of the Apostle Paul, his motives and his goals, this is my challenge to you. Choose one person that you need to create a better relationship with and pray for them for the next six weeks. Pray for their welfare. Pray for their success. Pray for their health. If you haven’t prayed for this person before, it’s a good start at improving your relationship with them. As you pray for them, your attitude toward them will soften. As you think of them in positive terms, your attitude towards them will also become more positive.
We’re told to pray for those who persecute us. But not only those who are against us, but those who we would like to become closer to. Pray for a boss, a co-worker, your spouse, a parent, a sibling, a son, a daughter, a friend, an enemy, anyone. Pick someone and petition God on their behalf.
Conclusion
This is an honorable approach to the new year. Priorities, attitude and getting along with people all will lead us to a happier and more God fearing life.
God has always had a positive outlook towards our lives. Man sinned and He immediately promised to send a savior. In Jeremiah 31God described His relationship with us. He said “I have loved you with an everlasting love.”
It’s this everlasting love that convinced the great writer, Josh McDowell to convert to Christianity. He studied for years the historical, archeological and physical evidence for signs of God. But in the end, it was the love of Jesus that convinced him it was true. It was God’s priorities, God’s attitude and God’s relationships that showed him that the Almighty cares for him, as well as us.
Just as God shared Himself to develop these relationships, it’s our own priorities, attitudes and relationships that make us who we are. God sent his only Son Jesus to bear the burden of our sins because we were valuable enough. He expects us to share ourselves as well.
I’d like to close with a story from the recent past that espoused these values exactly. The Oakland police force recently unveiled its first lowrider police car. The vehicle has the standard logo, lights and siren, but also includes chrome wheels, hydraulic lift, and a 500-watt sound system. The car was put on the force to help officers build better relationship with inner-city kids.
Paul applied the same principle to evangelism in 1 Corinthians 9:22 (ESV), “I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.” (Chip Johnston, “Evangelism”, 1001 Quotes, Illustrations & Humorous Stories for preacher, teachers & writers)
The Oakland Police Department chose to prioritize their resources, maintain a positive attitude and by doing so, they improved community relations. They dedicated their time, talents and money in a positive way that would influence good relations with those they serve.
Just like this California community was able to focus what they do and how they do it, you too can make a difference. Set your priorities with God in mind and you will be blessed. Set your attitude on positive things and you will succeed more often than fail. Focus on your relationships and they will flourish in time. These are worthy New Years’ resolutions… and one’s which we can be proud to strive for.
