Rethinking Our Resolutions: A Shift in Focus
As the New Year dawns, we’re bombarded with messages urging us to make resolutions, turn over a new leaf, or find a meaningful word to guide us. But have you ever stopped to think about what’s driving our focus? Is it really about self-improvement, or is it about something more?
The Pitfall of Self-Focus
Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23 that we’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. It’s no coincidence that both “SIN” and “PRIDE” have “I” in the middle. In today’s selfie-obsessed culture, it’s easy to get caught up in our own interests and forget about others. Even when we do set goals, they often revolve around our own desires and aspirations.
A Call to Humility
But as Christians, we’re called to be different. Paul encourages the Philippians (and us) to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Instead, we’re to value others above ourselves, looking to their interests rather than our own. This requires a humility that’s hard to come by in our me-centric world.
The Example of Christ
Jesus is our ultimate example of humility. Though He was in very nature God, He didn’t consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage. Instead, He made Himself nothing, taking on the nature of a servant and becoming obedient to death on a cross. This is the mindset we’re called to emulate in our relationships with others.
Shifting Our Focus
Perhaps the key to true transformation lies not in making resolutions or relying on our own strength, but in shifting our focus to the Cross. Rather than asking God to give us strength, we need to surrender to His strength. May we choose to be other-oriented, open to being used for His glory, and pliable enough to be molded into His image.
A New Path Forward
Let’s let God set the path, and may we be willing to follow. As we do, we’ll become His hands and feet in this world, pointing others to Him rather than ourselves. This is the true meaning of living a life that honors God.
Leave a Reply