Resolutions: Old And New

Did you make any News Year’s resolutions?

How are you going at keeping them?

The practice of making resolutions or promises to be “better” is very ancient. The Babylonians apparently started this tradition (as they did many others). In our modern world New Year’s Day is one of the “Big Five” days… that is Christmas Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Birthdays, yet it is the only one that not commercialized. For the enterprising amongst us, that’s a BIG opportunity! 

Making resolutions is a world-wide custom. New Year's Day is also the Festival of Saint Basil in Greece. Children leave their shoes by the fireside on New Year's Day with the hope that Saint Basil, who was famous for his kindness, will come and fill their shoes with gifts.

On New Year's Day in Japan, everyone gets dressed in their new clothes and homes are decorated with pine branches and bamboo--symbols of long life. The Jewish New Year is called Rosh Hashanah. It is a holy time when Jews recall the things they have done wrong in the past, and then promise to do better in the future. Special services are held in synagogues, children are given new clothes and New Year loaves are baked to remind people of harvest time. In Spain, eat 12 grapes, one each on the chime of the midnight clock guarantees you a lucky year, (also a monetary boost for table grape growers)

 A recent international poll produced this “Top Ten List” of New Year's Resolutions…

1) Spend More Time with Family and Friends 

 2) Fit in Fitness

 3) Loose Weight

 4) Quit Smoking

5) Enjoy Life More

 6) Quit Drinking

 7) Get Out of Debt

 8) Learn Something New

 9) Help Others

 10) Get Organized

All of them are admirable goals, but as most of us have long ago discovered, such goals/wishes seldom last longer than a few hours journey toward the next seduction of our ever-weak flesh.   

It does not matter if  New Year's Day slides past us with barely a ripple, it’s still a good idea to occasionally pause and take stock of our lives. To reflect on the past, consider those areas where we could have done better, and to resolve to improve is a sign of maturity. When we deliberate on our lives, most of us see areas which need improvement, and usually try to do something about them.

Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. Ephesians 4:15 NIV

But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him is the glory, now and forever! Amen. 2 Peter 3:18 

The dictionary defines maturity as: “The state or quality of being fully grown or developed.”

The Bible defines maturity as: “Christ likeness” From Christ comes all goodness, power, and truth. It is not what is on the outside of a person that marks as a mature one, but what comes from within. The journey to that state is often long and slow, there is no easy “10-Step Program” nor can we buy maturity… it can only be developed along life’s journey.