by Pastor Patrick Cho

With the arrival of the New Year comes the occasion for New Year’s resolutions. I think my own cynicism leads me to define New Year’s resolutions as: “Those goals made in January which most people sincerely set out to accomplish only to end up in failure.” I can’t recall how many times I’ve determined to lose those extra pounds gained during the holidays only to store them for the following year! How many times have we resolved to read through the Bible or keep a consistent journal only to give up sometime in March or April?

Of course, not all resolutions need to end up in failure. There really is no need for cynicism. In fact, some goals should be made each year. You should have it as a goal to read through the Bible in a year. (For you faster readers, maybe read through it twice!) You should be resolved to keep a consistent journal or prayer time. Personally, I’ve resolved in 2008 to work on becoming a better listener and to be better about keeping up the church and personal blogs.

Whatever your resolutions are, though, have you considered the reason for making them? Are you setting out simply to accomplish personal goals and achieve personal victories? Or do you set goals for the particular purpose of glorifying God and growing in personal sanctification? I learned this lesson the hard way after resolving one year to read through the Bible twice. I didn’t think I could do it, but with enough determination, I made it through twice from Genesis to Revelation! After I had done it, I realized that it was merely a personal victory achieved without the clear intent of doing it for my own sanctification for the glory of God. I didn’t have the same motivation to do it again the following year because I had already achieved it. This realization made the entire feat turn sour in my heart. Though it was quite an accomplishment to me, I do not pride myself on it because my heart was not in the right place. It is especially in this time of year that we ought to consider 1 Corinthians 10:31, to do all things to the glory of God. We need to constantly be watching after our hearts to ensure that the pursuit of sanctification does not become a series of personal victories leading to pride. Be resolved, but do so with a clear, definitive purpose.