Introduction:
A. I hope you had a Merry Christmas and I pray that together we have a blessed New Year.
B. I thought you might enjoy learning the history of the “Baby New Year.”
1. Britannica.com reports that the original “Baby New Year” was born in ancient Greece.
2. It was their custom to display an infant in a basket for the turn of the calendar.
3. During the late 1400s, Germans depicted the new year baby as a religious figure signifying Baby Jesus.
4. In the 19th century, the new year baby was secularized by newspaper cartoonists, and he went pop after the Saturday Evening Post put him on the cover in a top hat.
5. A cherub in a top hat, sash and diaper, Baby New Year is an avatar of optimism as the clock ticks down to midnight on December 31.
6. Humorously, these magazine covers have inspired grownups to dress like infants on New Year’s Eve in frequently ill-fated attempts to be the life of the party.
C. Someone has said that “the New Year is like a new baby – many changes will be necessary, some of which may be neglected.”
1. New Year’s Day is a good time to take stock of where we have been, where we are, and where we would like to go.
2. In all of our lives there is room for improvement – whether it be in our attitudes, values, words or actions.
3. Let’s take a few moments today to consider some goals for the new year.
4. In what ways would God like to help us change in the coming days and weeks?
5. As we all know so well, the challenge begins when our new year’s resolutions collide with our old year’s habits.
6. Thankfully, that’s where we have an advantage as Christians.
7. For Christians, changing is not just about human decision and willpower.
8. For Christians, change also involves the help of the Spirit of God who lives in us.
9. Yes, we must give our own attention and effort in the process, but the transforming power comes from the Spirit of God living in us.
D. Proverbs Chapter 3 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.
1. There is so much in this chapter for us to be directed toward and challenged by.
2. This chapter contains principles to apply and promises to claim.
3. Although there are more than 10 things to focus on in the chapter, I want to share 10 principles in the form of resolutions for the new year.
E. The chapter begins with Solomon admonishing his son to remember his teaching.
1. “My Son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.” (vs. 1-2)
2. Aren’t those wonderful promises? Aren’t they something that all of us desire?
3. We want our lives to not only be prolonged by many years, but we want them to be prosperous years, right?
4. And how did Solomon suggest that his son could bring that about?
a. Simply by remembering and keeping the commands of his father, which ultimately are the commands of God.
5. That promise is not just for Solomon’s biological children, but for all who will love God’s commands, who will hide them in their hearts and who will live them out in their lives.
F. Now let’s turn our attention to some of these principles in the form of resolutions.
Resolution #1: Let Love and Faithfulness Never Leave You (vs. 3-4)
A. Verse 3 says: “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
1. Notice what Solomon suggests as the place to start in order to have a prosperous life.
2. He starts with love and faithfulness - He suggests that these two qualities are essential.
3. What does a life look like that is characterized by love and faithfulness?
4. Try to imagine the person who is characterized by love - They are patient, kind, gentle, humble, selfless, and forgiving.
5. And when you add to that – faithfulness, you have a loving person who is loyal and trustworthy.
6. That kind of love and faithfulness needs to be applied in our marriages and with our children.
7. It needs to be applied to our relationships in the body of Christ and with our neighbors.
B. And look at the wonderful promised result if we will let love and faithfulness never leave us – we will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
1. I know that we all want that kind of reward and success with both God and with others.
2. And so love and faithfulness are the keys.
3. May God bless us with the desire and ability to let love and faithfulness never leave us! Amen!
Resolution #2: Trust in the Lord with All of Your Heart (vs. 5-6)
A. Look at verses 5 and 6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
1. This is such a foundational principle – one that says “I do not put confidence in my own understanding – rather, my confidence is in the Lord.”
2. Therefore, whatever path I consider taking, I first should acknowledge the Lord.
3. I should take it to the Lord and test it according to God’s wisdom and principles.
4. The promise that we are given here is that when we do trust the Lord and look to him for direction, He will make our paths straight.
5. God will keep us from wandering off the path.
6. He will keep us from getting stuck in the ditch and wasting a lot of time and frustration heading in the wrong direction.
Resolution #3: Do Not be Wise in Your Own Eyes (vs. 7-8)
A. This resolution is similar in some respects to the one we just looked at.
1. Verses 7 and 8 reads: “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.”
2. When we think we know it all and we fail to fear the Lord, then we are easy pry for Satan and his temptations.
3. Satan wants us to trust in ourselves. He wants us to make our own decisions.
4. He knows he can lure us into doing evil by helping us rationalize it in some way.
5. But if we will simply fear God and acknowledge how much we need the Lord’s wisdom and the Lord’s help then it will be easier to shun evil.
6. The wonderful reward for fearing God and shunning evil is health and wholeness.
7. When we choose a life of sin, even when we know we should not, then we live in a state of internal conflict and it not only saps our energy, it lowers our esteem, and robs us of our peace.
Resolution #4: Honor the Lord with Your Wealth (vs. 9-10)
A. This is such a simple principle, but one we often really resist.
1. Verses 9-10 say: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”
2. Money is a topic often addressed in Scripture.
3. We know that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and that many have lost their souls and pierced themselves with many griefs because they loved money too much (1 Tim 6).
4. What do these verses say to us? They instruct us to honor God with our money and to give to God what he deserves – a portion of our firstfruits.
5. We need to learn to put God first in all our financial decisions.
6. We should spend our money in a way that honors God.
7. The simple promise God gives is that when we honor God with our wealth, then we will have more than we need. We can’t out give God.
8. When God sees our efforts to truly honor him with our money, he will bless our efforts and will provide more so we can give more.
9. I pray that we will all give greater attention to honoring God with our wealth in 2018.
Resolution #5: Do Not Despise the Lord’s Discipline (vs. 11-12)
A. This resolution is not one that we like - It takes a truly spiritual mind and heart to apply this one.
1. Verses 11 and 12 read: “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves as a father the son he delights in.”
2. Hebrews 12:7 says, “Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons.”
3. James 1:2 and 3 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
4. This is the kind of spiritual mind that God wants each of us to have: When we face troubles and trials, God wants us to welcome them as God’s refining agent.
5. Rather than despise them and reject them as signs of God’s rejection or displeasure, we need to see them as signs of His love.
6. The Lord disciplines those he loves – so he must really love me, right!
7. Let’s resolve to have the right attitude toward our trials and to trust the Lord about them.
Resolution #6: Find Wisdom and Preserve It (vs. 13-24)
A. This next section in the chapter is much longer than the others so far, but it is full of beauty and promise.
1. Look at verses 13-24: “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; 20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. 21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; 24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”
2. These verses speak of the tremendous value of wisdom – that there is nothing more valuable than wisdom.
3. For that reason, wisdom is something we should seek and find.
4. We should spare no expense or effort to find the wisdom of God.
5. And where can we find this wisdom? It is found in the Word of God, and it comes also from the wise counsel of those who know God and his Word.
6. So we should do all we can to study and learn God’s Word that we might have His wisdom and know how to apply His Word to our lives.
a. (Introduce our Bible Reading Plan for the New Year)
7. And the results of having wisdom and understanding are described as long life, riches, honor, pleasant and peaceful ways, safety, and sweet sleep.
8. All that sounds fantastic doesn’t it? Let’s be resolved to find wisdom and preserve it.
Resolution #7: Have No Fear (vs. 25-26)
A. The person who is living the way we have described can live in safety and peace.
1. Verses 25-26 read: “Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.”
2. Our fear fades away because our confidence is in the Lord.
3. As we apply God’s wisdom and both fear and trust the Lord, then we need not fear the destruction that results from a life foolishly or wickedly lived.
4. Solomon suggests that we put fear aside and have confidence in the Lord.
Resolution #8: Do Not Withhold Good from Those Who Deserve It (vs. 27-28)
A. Let’s read verses 27 and 28: “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow’ when you now have it with you.”
1. The principle here teaches us to do good to others whenever we have opportunity.
2. We should not delay doing what we can to help someone to a future day, when they need it now.
3. In other words, seize the moment – give to others right then and there when they need it.
4. This certainly would include things like physical help, but can also include the giving of compliments, and encouragement.
5. Do not withhold good – give it, and give it liberally and immediately! Amen!
Resolution #9: Do Not Plot Harm Against Your Neighbor (vs. 29-30)
A. Look at verses 29-30: “Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse a man for no reason – when he has done you no harm.”
1. Plotting harm against others should never be the activity of those who love the Lord.
2. The Golden Rule tells us to only do to others what we would want them to do to us.
3. I don’t think that any of us want others to harm us, do we? Certainly not.
4. Then why would a person plot harm against another, especially against someone who has done nothing to them?
5. Often Selfish reasons usually come into play.
a. Maybe that person has something you don’t – whether it be the respect of others or some valuable possession.
b. Maybe that person has a problem with someone who is your friend and you plot harm against them to stay on the good side of your friend.
6. Whatever the reason, deliberately hurting others is never justified before God.
7. The Bible teaches us that revenge is the Lord’s, we must never take revenge into our own hands.
8. The Bible tells us to love our enemies and pray for them.
9. Resolve this year to treat everyone with the love of Christ and to treat them as you want to be treated.
Resolution #10: Do Not Envy Others (vs. 31-35)
A. Look at the final verses of this chapter: “Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, 32 for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence. 33 The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. 34 He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.”
1. Truly, envy is something that rots the bones - It destroys us from the inside out.
2. We especially should not envy the wrong things or the wrong kind of people.
3. But sometimes it is so hard not to envy the wicked – it looks like they have it so easy.
a. They seem to be having so much fun, living their sinful, materialistic lifestyles.
b. They may be rich and famous, and look so glamorous and affluent, but we must not let any of that fool us.
4. None of that equals happiness and peace, and it certainly does not measure up to the blessings of righteousness.
5. In the end, God’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
6. The wise inherit honor, but fools He holds up in shame.
Conclusion:
A. Jonathan Edwards, the 18th-century revivalist preacher is a good example for us to follow.
1. Jonathan Edwards sat down at age 17 and penned 21 resolutions by which he would live his life.
2. Throughout his lifetime, he would add to this list until, by his death, he had 70 resolutions.
3. He put at the top of his list: “Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions… And to remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.”
4. Edwards didn’t casually make New’s Year’s resolutions with an expectation of eventually breaking them.
5. Each week he did a “self-check” and in his journal, he regularly summed up how he was doing and sought God’s help in the process.
B. Our call as Christians is a commitment to actively work toward conforming to the image of Christ.
1. I hope that each of us will resolve to be a person committed to a godly transformation.
2. I pray that these 10 principles of God from Proverbs 3 will be a good place for us to start.
3. Let’s make 2018 a year of real spiritual growth as we give more attention and effort to our Lord and our relationship with our Lord.
4. May God be glorified and may His blessing be upon each one of us! Amen.
