WHATS GONE IS GONE
Last year at this time, some of you were saying, "This year, things are
going to be different!
I’m going to change!
I’m going to be a better spouse.
I’m going to spend more time with my family.
I’m going to spend more time reading my Bible. More time praying to God. More time serving others.
This is the year I get my ducks in a row!"
Just by a simple show of hands, who has stuck to their new years resolutions?
RELEASE - QUIP
You know what they say about New Year’s resolutions? They usually go in one year and out the other!
TOP 5
I saw a recent article that listed the five most popular resolutions made most every year.
The 5th was to take up a new hobby.
The 4th was to make more money.
The 3rd most popular resolution was to improve relationships.
The 2nd was to stop smoking.
The most popular New Years resolution, you guessed it, losing weight.
HUMOROUS ILLUSTRATION – MAN ON SCALE
A woman walked into her bathroom at home. As she did, she saw her husband weighing himself on the bathroom scales, sucking in his stomach. The woman thought to herself, "He thinks that he will weigh less by sucking in his stomach." So, the woman rather sarcastically said to her husband, "That’s not going to help." Her husband said, "Sure it will. It’s the only way I can see the numbers."
HOW QUICKLY WE FORGET
Often this time of year, after the overindulgence of the holidays we make resolutions to change our habits and our way of life.
A new year gives us an opportunity to start fresh and better ourselves.
Come the middle of January we somehow forget our resolutions and go back to our old ways.
Now by a simple show of hands who can even remember their new years resolutions?
FORGETFUL ILLUSTRATION
I heard about a man who moved into a retirement community to spend the rest of his life there. It wasn’t long until he had made a number of friends among the other residents. There was one lady he was especially attracted to, & she was attracted to him, also. So they spent a lot of time together. Finally one evening he proposed, asking her to marry him.
The next morning he woke up remembering his proposal, but he couldn’t remember her answer. So he went to her & said, "I’m really embarrassed. I proposed to you last night but I can’t remember if you said `Yes’ or `No."’ "Oh, thank goodness!" she replied. "I remembered saying `Yes’ but I couldn’t remember who asked me."
It is so easy to forget the commitments and resolutions we make at New Year’s
CATEGORIES OF RESOLUTIONS
This is the 1st Sunday of the New Year. You know, when you think about it, all New Year’s Resolutions basically fall into 3 categories. They deal with: (ADVANCE)
1. Things to make us look better and live longer.
2. Things to make us have more.
3. Things that will help us to get along with everyone.
(ADVANCE)
I call them - Longevity, Prosperity and Peace.
BIBLICAL?
I went hunting for new years resolutions in scripture. Not called resolutions but what I found – well I have made them my resolutions for 2005.
PROV CHAPTER 3 - . I’m titling this sermon 10 New Year’s Resolutions From The Wisest Man That Ever Lived. Proverbs - chapter 3.
OVERVIEW
Now this first time I read I will just leave out a few words here and there and we will see just the benefits of adopting this set of New Year’s Resolutions set forth here in this 3rd chapter.
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. [Longevity, Prosperity] . . . you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man. . .He will direct your paths. . . will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. . . your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. . . you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. . . you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. . . the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Solomon starts off this 3rd chapter with a very matter of fact statement.
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.
Then He gives very specific details of 10 principles that we should live by in order to have long life, prosperity and peace
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 1. LET LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS NEVER LEAVE YOU V 3-4
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favour and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Love and Faithfulness - Let these two qualities be the guiding lights in our lives - in everything we do. These must be foundational to all we do.
Definition of Love – Some define it as that fateful glance across a crowded room – I define it as a man with nails in his hands. Love is something we could define forever.
Definition of Faithfulness: keeping faith; maintaining allegiance; constant; loyal - [faithful friends] , showing a strong sense of duty or responsibility; conscientious, accurate; reliable; exact [a faithful copy]
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 2. TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART. V 5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. [Or will direct your paths.]
Definitions of the word Trust:
a) firm belief in or confidence in, the honesty, integrity, reliability, justice, etc. of another person or thing; faith in or reliance on the person or thing trusted.
b) confident expectation, anticipation, or hope [to have trust in the future]
Trust in the LORD with all your heart --
Definitions of the word Acknowledge:
a) to admit to be true or as stated; confess
b) to recognize the authority or claims of
c) to recognize and answer (a greeting or greeter, an introduction, etc.)
d) to express thanks for
e) to verify receipt of (a letter, gift, favor, payment, etc.)
f) to admit or affirm as genuine; certify in legal form !to acknowledge a deed"
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 3. DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES V 7-8
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Did you pray about your new years resolutions?
Did you ask God for guidance about what you are to work on?
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 4. HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR WEALTH V 9-10
9 Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
This starts with tithing
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 5. DO NOT DESPISE THE LORD’S DISCIPLINE V 11-12
11 My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Will you make the changes that you are prompted to make? Will you even year the requests to make the changes?
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 6. SEARCH DILIGENTLY FOR WISDOM AND FIND IT V 13-24
13 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 honour. 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.
There is no stopping – We must find it!!!!!
WHAT IS WISDOM? WISDOM HAS TWO GROUPS OF CHARACTERISTICS.
1. INFORMATION
2. KNOW-HOW
Do an analogy of a farmer with a tractor in a field. He must have the right equipment and materials - gas etc. But he still must know what to do and what not to do with it - how to use it and how not to use it - when to use it and when not to use it - and where to use it and where not to use it - if he is going to be a successful farmer.
V 13-20 talks about those characteristics of wisdom which deal with knowlege, learning, information, intelligence, data, facts, intellect, and experience.
V 21-24 talks about those characteristics of wisdom which deal with perception, discernment, judgement, reason, insight, prudence, discretion, and just plain ol’ common sense.
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 7. HAVE NO FEAR V 25-26
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.
Do you live in fear – depression anxiety? – Think there is a catch to everything in your life? Crime?
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 8. DO NOT WITHHOLD GOOD FROM THOSE WHO DESERVE IT V 27-28
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. 28 Do not say to your neighbour, “Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow” — when you now have it with you.
If you need anything do not hesitate to call…??? You ever got a call from someone saying – you know that you said I should call if I needed anything?
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 9. DO NOT PLOT HARM AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR V 29-30
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbour, who lives trustfully near you. 30 Do not accuse a man for no reason — when he has done you no harm.
Tax man? That chap at work that is after your position?
“No I am sorry but that person must feel what it is like to be in that position. After all they have done it it to me how many times?”
(ADVANCE)
Resolution 10. DO NOT ENVY A VIOLENT MAN OR CHOOSE ANY OF HIS WAYS V 31 - 32
31 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.
Watch what you watch on TV this year. Satan is perverting you and yours through that box!
CONCLUSION
We have a lot to do…How do your resolutions marry up to what Solomon wanted??
They are steep. But there is loads of practical application from every one of those resolutions. See through your study of Proverbs 3 this week what practicality you can put to some of these resolutions
Blessing to you this year. May your mind and your heart be closely aligned to the will of God on your life and may you know his blessings for your obedience.
