With another New Year celebration comes another abundance of New Year's Resolutions: Lose weight, go to the gym, eat healthy, start saving for retirement, quit smoking, stop drinking, or a myriad of other goals that people make and break annually. While some take New Year's Resolutions lightly, I see them as a window into a person's character. Fulfilled resolutions often reveal people who are committed and determined. Broken resolutions often reveal those who are less disciplined or may be starters, but not finishers. Some people are completely afraid to make any type of commitments! The excuses a person makes or the frivolous way he approaches a promise, will often reveal his character. If a person is willing to break one promise (resolution), then he is most likely willing to break another.
I've always been a fan of the "Promise Keepers" movement and believe men should be men of their word! James 5:12b says, "...But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment." I remember the days when men could shake hands on a deal and their word was their bond. Sadly, times have changed and even "Christians" have to have legal contracts with one another. Truth is now relative, church leaders often lie, and you may need to beware of those who put a Christian fish symbol (Ichthus) on their business card. Whatever happened to being a promise keeper? Whatever happened to being men of character and integrity?
Character starts with the ability to admit a mistake or own up to the responsibility for a failure; but people have become experts at blame-shifting and finding excuses for their failures and shortcomings. The "blame game" becomes more perfected with each passing year. For example, after 8 years, President Obama still blames President Bush for the failures of his current administration. The Democrats are blaming James Comey and Vladimir Putin for Hillary losing the election. Hillary blamed a video for the attack in Benghazi and her aides for setting up her home server. No wonder people are tired of politics as usual!
Likewise, churches will go through several pastors, only to realize that the perceived preacher problems were really congregation or staff problems. In marriage, a perpetual divorcee will continue to blame his ex-spouses. NFL teams blame the coach for a losing season. Even in the corporate world, companies blame former employees for their ongoing problems. Lazy employees blame their bosses for poor performance reviews, and so on...and so on...and so on.
We must get back to teaching the basics about personal character and Exodus 20 is a great place to start:
- Honor your father and mother.
- You shall not murder.
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not lie.
- And 5 other character commandments to live by.
Our world appears to be more focused on treating the symptoms of poor character, rather than looking for a cure. Here's a clue... IF YOU REMOVE WHAT YOU THINK IS THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS; YOU ADDRESSED THE WRONG ISSUE! Just as wearing workout clothes, eating a salad, and purchasing a gym membership won't make you skinny; neither will simply going to church on Sunday and praying before meals make more like Jesus! You must address the deeper issues in order to effect real change! It takes total surrender and complete commitment to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. So, let's resolve to make 2017 the year that our New Year's resolutions focus on building Christ-like character... and let's stick with them!
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