Confusing Wants With Resolutions And Resolving To Do More

How much more desirable it is to have little with much love than much with little love.

“Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.” Proverbs 17:1

There’s a problem with writing all the time. I write 50 sermons a year for the church. I write 52 columns a year for the newspaper. I write 302 devotionals a year for my congregation. I write every other day on several books I’ll probably never get published. I write notes, and jot down sayings. I write (somewhat) in a journal and write down things that have inspired me. I write birthday cards and anniversary cards and get well notes and sympathy notes. I text at least 10 times a day and hammer out emails on all sorts of things for well over an hour.

I write and I write and I write.

And, sometimes, you just don’t have something to write about.

So I go back and read what I’ve written in previous years. Take this week for example. I went back and read every New Year’s column, devotional and sermon I’ve ever set down to pen for the past 12 years.

I’ve come away with two things.

The first is apparently I still need to lose weight.

I can’t help it! I try and try and try and then someone gives the pastor some ooeygooey butter cookies.

Which leads me to the second thing.

I’m really no good at predicting the future.

I know what I’d like for it to be. I’d like to have a future with no worrying about stretching the budget to go out to eat.

I’d like to have a future where toothaches never happen and a new joint pain isn’t discovered every time I wake up.

I’d like to have a future in which everyone is a best friend and no one moves away.

I’d like to have a future in which every word I say (or write) is received with love and grace. I’d like to have… . I’d like to have all sorts of things. And it seems like during New Year’s those wants and likes make their way into my mind. And, every year I get it wrong.

Maybe it’s because I’m confusing my wants with my resolutions.

Sure I want those washboard abs. But I resolve to spend more time with my family.

Sure I want financial freedom. But I resolve to give more to those in need.

Sure I want for everyone to like me. But I resolve to be kind to strangers.

Sure I want to travel the world. But I resolve to preach the gospel on missionary trips.

Sure I want to stay young forever. But I resolve to tell the next generation about the grace of God.

When we start to confuse our wants with our resolutions, that’s when we forget the best thing in life. Jesus. So this year, I pledge not to want so much and instead strengthen my resolve more.

(Unless, of course, there’s ooey-gooey butter cookies involved.)

Let us pray.

Our God of grace and love. Sometimes in life we want the wrong things. Sometimes we forget that you charge us to take care of the poor, to clothe those in need and care for those who are sick. You never gave us a commandment to be the richest or the most liked. We pray this day that the coming year will see our resolve to love you strengthen even more. For through Christ you make all things possible. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

The Blessings of Our Lord Jesus Christ Be With You!