The Wise Man's Resolutions

Millions of Americans make New Year's resolutions every year. This is New Year's Day, and today we're going to talk about the wise man's resolutions found in Proverbs Chapter 3. So open with us to Proverbs Chapter 3 and see what New Year's resolutions might be helpful to you in your life. Amen. Good morning. Happy New Year! Would you take out your Bibles with me, please? If you don't have a Bible, you can raise your hand, and one of our ushers will bring you one.

We're going to be in the Old Testament today in the book of Proverbs. If you turn to about the middle of your Bible, you should find the Psalms. There are 150 of those, and then right after that is Proverbs, specifically Proverbs Chapter 3. If you wouldn't mind standing with me, we will read from the Scriptures together.

Proverbs Chapter 3, picking it up at verse 1, in the wisdom of Solomon, we read: "My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you."

Standing here today on the very first day of a new year, I think it's safe to assume that virtually all of us would love to have length of days, long life, and peace added to us. So, God, I pray that you would help us to take heed to your word, to observe what your word says, but not only to know it intellectually, but to make it a part of our lives, to apply it.

Lord, teach us how to apply your word, to make it a part of who we are daily—the way that we interact with people, the way that we respond to people. Jesus, you said that your word sanctifies us; it's truth. Lord, we are washed by the washing of the water of your word. Our minds, lives, and hearts are transformed as they are renewed by your word.

I pray that not just today, but this whole year, we dedicate this year, 2017, to you on this first day of 2017, and that it would be a year in which we grow in our faith.

Understanding and our application of who You are and what You've revealed to us of what You've called us to do. So, God, speak to us today. We ask this in Jesus' name, and all those that agree said, "Amen." You can be seated.

For some people, the transition into a new year is not that big of a deal. They don't think much of it; it's just another date that moves from 2016 to 2017, another month that moves from December to January. For a segment of people, it's not that significant. However, we know from research that nearly two-thirds of Americans count this as an important transition. Over 60%, specifically 62% of Americans, take time at the end of each year and the beginning of a new year to resolve to make some changes, to be different, to do something different in the new year.

With those statistics in mind, six out of ten of us in this room this morning have been thinking about 2016 and looking forward to 2017, perhaps desiring to make some alterations or changes. It was a couple of days before the new year when she walked into the bathroom to see her husband standing there on the scale. He kept sucking it in, and finally, shaking her head, she said to him, "You do realize that that's not going to help." He replied, "Sure it will; I can't see the numbers if I don't do that."

Sixty-two percent of Americans are making resolutions, and many people have getting healthy and losing weight at the top of their list of things to resolve for 2017. In fact, those are consistently number one and number two on the top ten New Year's resolutions. Almost every single year, researchers find that getting healthy and losing weight are the most common resolutions.

I was thinking about this last week, reflecting on everything from Thanksgiving and even backtracking a little further to October, November, and December. I think I probably do need to eat a little healthier. However, in thinking about that, I probably need to eat all the junk food first so that I'm not tempted by anything in the house. So, we'll just have to get through all that by the end of the day. There are things that people are resolving to do differently this year, just as they do every year.

This year, I have several resolutions. Number one is to get healthy and stay fit. Number two is to lose weight. Number three is to enjoy life to the fullest. Number four is to spend less and save more. Number five is to spend more time with family and friends. Number six is to get organized. I like this one: number seven, I resolve to not make any resolutions. Number eight is to learn something new and start a new hobby. Number nine is to travel more. Number ten is to read more.

There are people who are making resolutions; 62% of Americans do so. However, only 8% of those who make New Year's resolutions actually follow through on them. The odds are not always in our favor. I hope that every single one of us who is making any resolutions will be among the 8%. That is what we want to work towards this year if there are changes you are seeking to make in the New Year.

As I was thinking about New Year's resolutions and the desire to make a change, I started to reflect on the wisdom of Solomon. I came to Proverbs chapter 3 and was reading through this passage. Here, I believe there are ten resolutions of the wise man, Solomon. The book of Proverbs is known as the wisdom of Solomon. Solomon is considered by some to be the wisest man who ever lived. He was the king of Israel some 3,000 years ago. He wrote Ecclesiastes, these Proverbs, the Song of Solomon, and a number of the Psalms. There are many other Proverbs and pieces of wisdom that he wrote, which we do not have, but they are mentioned in the books of Kings and Chronicles, which speak of the immense wisdom of Solomon.

When you read through Proverbs, I highly recommend that you do so. Read through chapters 1 to 31. It is interesting that there are 31 chapters in Proverbs and typically 31 days in a month. You could read through this wisdom literature 12 times in a year if you committed yourself to it. It wouldn't take you very long, and I believe that it would aid in your growth of wisdom. In fact, one of the greatest things you could do to change your life in 2017 is to spend time reading God's Word. We will talk a little more about that as we go through this this morning.

To help you do that, one of the things I started in 2016, which we are continuing in 2017, is called The Listening Plan.

If you go to thelisteningplan.com, you can subscribe to a daily email that will come to you every single weekday starting tomorrow. It will walk you through the New Testament. It just so happens there are almost as many weekdays in a year as there are chapters in the New Testament. You can go through the New Testament by reading or listening to The Listening Plan, one chapter a day. I think it's a good place to start with the Scriptures. God's Word is able to make us wise, transform our minds, and sanctify and cleanse us. One of the best things you can do in 2017 would be to commit to reading through the Scriptures on a regular daily basis, and I believe The Listening Plan could help.

At this point, we have 900 subscribers, and it's growing at about 100 new subscribers every single month. It's really neat to see that happening. As I was looking through Proverbs chapter 3 and going through each of the Proverbs in this chapter, I noticed there are about ten resolutions from the wise man Solomon.

Notice what he says at the beginning. We just read this verse a moment ago: Proverbs chapter 3, verse 1. "My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commandments." The New Living Translation says, "If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying." I don't think there's anyone in this room, or even outside of this room, who does not want to live many years and have a satisfying life. In fact, many people are seeking satisfaction in this life—a long life and satisfaction. We know, and songwriters have told us, that you don't always find it. "I can't get no satisfaction," right?

People are seeking it, desiring it, and yet they're missing out on it. But Solomon says here, "Listen, my child, my son, take heed to the words that I'm going to command you, and the result will be that you'll live many years and your life will be satisfying." If we take note of Solomon's instructions, I believe there are some really helpful resolutions—things that, if we resolve to do, will have a significant impact on our lives, not just in 2017, but going on into the years to come.

So look with me, if you will, at Proverbs chapter 3, verse 3, and we'll see.

Our first resolution that the wise man Solomon gives to us is to let not mercy and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and men.

It's interesting that we live in a culture today, in the 21st century, especially in 2017, where the generation coming up right now has never lived without smartphones and social media. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are just a few examples. Sociologists, those who study these things, tell us that this generation's entire esteem and value, the dignity they place in their own lives, is based almost entirely on what other people think of them based on their social media presence.

It's phenomenal. They post pictures and share various thoughts, and their mood rises and falls depending on how many people like or comment on their posts. They are looking for their value and esteem to come from the opinions of others. However, I am here to tell you today that ultimately, this does not bring any greater value or esteem. The greatest value comes when it is rooted in God.

So, here Solomon says that if you want to experience the favor and esteem of God, and secondarily, of man, then do these things. The English Standard Version states, "Let not steadfast love and faithfulness leave you." The first version of this advice is to be merciful and faithful. If you want to experience the esteem and honor of God, and secondarily, the people of this world, then he says to be merciful and faithful.

The word translated as merciful, "let not mercy and truth forsake you," is the Hebrew word "chesed," which refers to the steadfast love of God. It is one of the attributes that is core to who God is. If we were to make a list of all the attributes of God, it would be longer than any of us could ever fully compile. Among all the attributes that define who God is, I believe that this is very near the top.

The top, if not at the very top, is God's character. In fact, when He introduces Himself to Moses in Exodus chapter 34, verse six, the very first thing He says is, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful." Here, Solomon, in his wisdom, advises those who would heed his words—his child, his follower—to be merciful and faithful.

Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." It's interesting; every single one of us wants mercy for ourselves. In our fallen human nature, we tend to desire justice for other people. We know this because anytime someone breaks the law in our presence, typically while driving, we often think, "I wish there was a police officer here right now."

I experienced this just last night. I was with Pastor Mark, his wife, and my wife, and as we were getting off the freeway, a car went right through a red light while a cop had just stopped another person. We thought, "Man, I wish he would have caught the guy who went through the red light. Where's the cop?" We want justice for others. But when it comes to us, every single one of us has run a red light or two, or maybe gone a little faster than we should on the 15. You know the experience when you catch a glance in your rearview mirror and think you saw something black and white, and your heart skips a beat. Am I alone in this? No. And what do we instinctively do? We pray, "Oh, Lord, please." We want mercy for ourselves.

Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." The second resolution is found in Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Trust in the Lord with all of your heart.

Over the years, I've talked with brothers and sisters in the church, and on more than a few occasions, I've had people tell me, "Oh, you know, I have a really hard time memorizing Scripture. I don't have the best memory." Yet, there are probably a number of you here who know this verse.

You may have read it on a card that someone sent to you as encouragement, or you might have seen it on a bookmark or a poster. Perhaps you've come across it in the Scriptures. It's one of those famous verses that people encourage you to memorize. What I have found is that even for those who have a hard time memorizing the Bible, it's easier to memorize this verse than to apply it. This is one of those hard verses: "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Don't lean on your own understanding."

I don't know if you're anything like me, but when I encounter a problem or an issue that I need to deal with, I tend to be one of those highly analytical people. I want to look at it from 900 different positions and angles, trying to deconstruct it and figure it out. I want to understand it and fix it. There are many times when I face obstacles and difficulties that are simply not fixable in my strength or ability. Yet, it is so hard for me to let go and relinquish my understanding in those situations.

And yet here, Solomon says, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Don't lean on, don't rely on your own understanding. In every step you take, in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and trust He will direct your steps through whatever problem you are facing, whatever difficulty you are going through."

So, resolution number two: trust God completely. Don't depend solely on your own understanding; instead, entrust your cares to the Lord. The Scriptures say, "Commit your cares to the Lord, for He cares for you." That's good news. It's reassuring to know that as we stand at the beginning of a new year, every one of us will go through things this year that produce anxiety.

A number of people in our church right now are experiencing very distressing situations that cause extreme anxiety and worry. But Jesus taught, "Who by worrying can add one cubit to their stature?" In other words, who by worrying can add one day to their life? You really can't fix anything by worry. The Scriptures say, "Do not fret; it only causes harm." I am sure that every single one of us has experienced at some point the harm of fretting and worrying.

You know what worry is? It's meditating on your problems. People sometimes want to know, "What exactly is meditation?" Well, if you don't know how to meditate, you actually do, because every time you worry, you are meditating.

That's what you're doing. You're constantly going over and over again in your mind about what your problem is, how you can fix it, and how you can make this right. Yet, Solomon, in his wisdom—wisdom given to him by God—says, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path."

Listen, we believe in a living God, a God who knows and is intimately involved in the things of our lives. The Scriptures say He knows the number of the hairs on your head. Now, for some of you, you've made it easy for God, but He knows the number of the hairs on your head—something so insignificant and strange that the Scriptures would mention it. If He knows that, He knows the things you're facing, and He has the ability and power to direct your steps.

Isaiah the prophet, 2,800 years ago, wrote, "God, You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon You because he trusts in You." God will keep you, maintain you, and hold you in a place of perfect peace. The words for perfect peace in the original language are "shalom, shalom." Shalom is the greeting, oftentimes, of the Jews, both then and now; it means "peace be to you." Peace, shalom. He says, "You will keep him in shalom, shalom," which is peace multiplied—the person whose mind is set and stayed on You because he trusts in You.

Then, in the following verse, Isaiah 26:4, he gives the application of that truth: "Trust in the Lord forever, for in Him is everlasting strength." I want to know the perfect peace of God, and the way to do that is to set and fix your heart and your mind upon the Lord, to trust in Him, to put your confidence in Him.

Well, Solomon continues in verses seven and eight. He says, "Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones." Resolution number three: be humble. Resolve in 2017 to be humble. We live in a culture that says you need to be assertive, you need to stand your ground, and you need to have strong self-esteem or pride.

And yet, though that is the way that people assume they will succeed in this world, this kingdom, and the kingdom of God—the kingdom that is eternal—He says that we really shouldn't be wise in our own eyes; we should be humble. The New Living Translation says, "Don't be impressed with your own wisdom; fear the Lord and turn away from evil." Jesus taught this. He says in Luke chapter 14, "When someone invites you to a meal, go and sit down at the lowest place so that when he who invited you comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, go up higher,' and then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

The exhortation is given repeatedly in the Scriptures: humble yourself before God. He is the one who will lift you up, who will exalt you. Follow the pattern of Jesus. We're told in Philippians chapter 2, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking upon Himself the form of a servant. He humbled Himself. Therefore, God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the glory of the Father." He humbled Himself, and Paul says, "Let that mind be the mind that you hold on to, that you live after."

God's economy is different from the economy that we live in. So resolve in 2017 to be humble. Look at verses nine and ten. He says, "Honor the Lord with your possessions, with the first fruits of all your increase, so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine."

Resolution number four: be giving. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the best part of everything that you have. This is hard sometimes for us because the Scriptures make it very clear that our hearts are connected to our treasure. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Jesus spoke on this quite a bit in the Gospels, addressing the issues of wealth and money. In the wisdom of Solomon, God-given wisdom says, "Listen, give your first fruits to the Lord. He will take care of the things that you need." Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, "Don't worry about what you're going to wear, what you're...".

Going to eat? Where are you going to sleep after all those things unbelievers see? But you have a Father in heaven who knows the things that you have needed. Trust Him. He offers His kingdom, and all these things will be added to you, which is exactly what Solomon is saying here. Be one who gives of the first fruits to the Lord, and He will cause you to have the abundance that you need. He takes care of our needs.

I have seen this in other people's lives, and I've experienced this in my own life for all of my adult life. Every single time any sort of income comes in, the very top of it, the first fruits, the first bit of it, is given to the Lord. My wife and I have always given at least 10% of everything that comes in to the Lord. There have been times when things have seemed tight, and we wondered if we would have what we needed in those situations. Every time, without fail, and sometimes miraculously, God has taken care of the things that we have needed.

I am not promulgating or preaching some sort of prosperity gospel that simply says that God exists in heaven to give you all the things that you want. That's not what I'm saying. But Jesus did say in Luke's Gospel, chapter six, verse 38, "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put to your account; for with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

Here's something I've seen and taught: God gives to an open hand. Someone who is willing to give to others, to share with others, will receive from God because He finds them faithful in the things that He has given to them. If you say, "I don't know if I can do this; I don't have what I need to be able to accomplish this," listen, we want to help you to be able to do that.

That's why, in just a couple of weeks on the 14th, we will be having a Faith and Finances class. It's just one day for three hours on a Saturday morning, the 14th of January. If you want to understand the theology of treasure and what the Bible has to say about these things, as well as some practical counsel—both from the Scriptures and practical, good understanding on these matters—I will be teaching this class. You can register for free online at the church's website, lifeinconnection.com. Come on out; I think it will be of great value to you.

Why? Because the wisdom of God through Solomon is to honor the Lord with your possessions, with the first fruits of your increase, so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine.

Resolve to be giving in 2017. He goes on in verse 11 of Proverbs chapter three: "My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction; for whom the Lord loves, He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights."

Number five, be teachable. This year, not only are we going to have a faith and finances class, but we're also going to have a class on marriage, a class on parenting, and a number of other discipleship classes coming in 2017. These are great areas for us to be teachable, but that's not the only place where we need to be teachable. Notice that He speaks here as a father to His children. God, if you're a follower of Jesus, is your Father, and He disciplines His children.

Now, how many of you remember being disciplined as a child? Oh boy, I do. There are a couple of different ways you can respond to discipline. You can harden your heart, stand against it, turn away from the discipline, and try to rebel against it. This will have no value and produce no fruit in your life. Alternatively, you can turn into that discipline and recognize that whom the Lord loves, He chastens. If you're disciplined by the Lord, it reveals to us that you are His child.

The author of the book of Hebrews quotes this verse verbatim in Hebrews chapter 12. He says that the person who is exercised by this correction from God yields in their life the peaceable fruits of righteousness. It produces righteousness in their life. Therefore, endeavor to resolve this year to be teachable, to turn into the correction of the Lord, not turn away from it, and to allow God to instruct you.

This idea of discipline is connected to the idea of discipleship, and God wants to grow us into maturity. He does not want us to remain like little infantile two-year-old Christians. Let me tell you, there are many infantile Christians in the church—not just this church, but in the church as a whole. We need to grow. Many times, this growth takes turning into the chastening of the Lord, accepting it, and saying, "God, disciple me; raise me up."

Resolve this year to be teachable. Solomon continues in verses 13 through 24, which is quite a big section. In fact, much of the book of Proverbs, the 31 chapters, deals with what he talks about here. He says, "Happy is the man who finds wisdom." More than any other book in the Bible, the book of Proverbs, this short 31-chapter book, speaks of wisdom. This word is used almost 50 times throughout the 31 chapters. Almost every single chapter of this book deals with wisdom.

The opening words of Proverbs call us to seek wisdom, and here again, he returns to this theme. He says, "Blessed, happy is the one, the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding." Almost always in Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a her and she; wisdom is to be pursued. For her, wisdom's proceeds are better than the profits of silver and the gain of gold.

How many people do you know who are seeking and purposing in their lives to pursue riches? Most of the people we interact with on a regular basis are focused on getting after riches. He says, "Wisdom is better than silver and fine gold." In verse 15, he continues, "She is more precious than rubies, and all the things that men desire cannot compare to her."

Think of all the things that our hearts desire in this world. Our hearts are like little desire factories, constantly producing desires. "I want that." As you get older, you learn to restrain that and keep it quiet. But when you're a little kid, it just comes right out of them. They constantly say, "I want, I want, I want." We might think, "Gosh, they're so immature." But we are the same; it's just that we mask it better. The desire is always there, desire after desire. He says everything that man could desire pales in comparison to wisdom.

Length of days is in her right hand, wisdom's right hand, and in her left, riches and honor. A long life, prestige, and riches are truly found in wisdom. Her ways are the ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.

The Lord, by wisdom, founded the earth. By understanding, He established the heavens. By His knowledge, the depths were broken up, and clouds dropped down dew. My son, let them not depart from your eyes.

Keep sound wisdom and discretion so they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck. Then you will walk safely in your way, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. I don't know about you, but I like sweet sleep. I have four young kids, so I really appreciate sweet sleep.

Resolve number six is to be a seeker of wisdom. To be a seeker of wisdom is to be a seeker of God because He is the source of wisdom. It comes from Him. Therefore, be a seeker of wisdom in 2017. As I mentioned earlier, if you want to begin to fulfill this resolution, I encourage you to read a proverb a day. Read Proverbs chapter one on January 1st, chapter two on January 2nd, and continue through the chapters. See if the words of God's wisdom through Solomon do not change the way you see the world and how you interact with your spouse, your children, your co-workers, and your friends.

In Proverbs chapter three, verse 25, it says, "Do not be afraid of sudden terror." Isn't that what we've been afraid of for 16 years now? Since 9/11, Americans and Westerners have been afraid of sudden terror. It was all over the news in the last couple of days as people prepared to celebrate New Year's Eve. There were worries about the big events happening, and from Sydney all the way through, people were watching to see if there would be any terror attacks. Unfortunately, there was one last night in Istanbul.

People are afraid of sudden terror, but here it says, "Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes." Notice that it says "when it comes," not "if it comes." But He says, "Don't be afraid." How can we not be afraid when it comes? He says, "For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught."

Reason number seven is to be confident in the Lord. This ties back to number two: trust God completely.

Find your confidence in the Lord. The Scriptures say, "Some trust in horses, some trust in chariots, but we will trust in the name of our Lord," as the psalmist writes. This was true 3,000 years ago, and it is true today. Though they may have trusted in horses and chariots back then, today people trust in things like nuclear weapons, the strength of their government, their 401(k), their intelligence, their careers, and their looks, which are fleeting. They trust in all kinds of different things, things that you can put your confidence in.

Every single one of those things will leave you when hard times come. They will not support you when difficulty enters your life, but the Lord is our strength. He is our ever-present help in time of trouble. He is our sure foundation, our fortress, our rock, our refuge. Be confident in the Lord. The only way you can truly be confident in Him is to spend time getting to know Him and to see that He is worthy of your confidence and trust. How will you ever trust in Him if you don't truly know Him? There is no better way to get to know Him than through the way He has revealed Himself in the Scriptures, through His Word.

So resolve in 2017 to be confident in the Lord. He continues in verse 27: "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go and come back, and tomorrow I will give it to you,' when you have it with you now."

Resolution number eight: be generous and good. Be generous and good. Don't withhold good from those to whom it is due. Don't hold back when you have the ability to give to someone.

He goes on in verse 29: "Do not devise evil, plan evil against your neighbor, for he dwells by you for safety's sake. Do not strive with a man without cause if he has done you no harm."

Resolution number nine: be a good neighbor. Be a good neighbor.

We talked about this in our series leading up to Christmas about three or four weeks ago. We discussed the concept of being a good neighbor. A lawyer came to Jesus and asked Him, "What's the greatest command in the law?" Jesus replied, "To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself."

This lawyer, seeking to justify himself, asked Jesus, "Well, who's my neighbor?" He was trying to find a loophole to avoid being neighborly to someone. In response, Jesus taught what we call the parable of the Good Samaritan, revealing who the neighbor was. The neighbor was the one who showed mercy, goodness, and kindness. Here, Solomon encourages us to resolve to be one who is a good neighbor.

Finally, in Proverbs chapter three, verses 31 through 35, it says, "Do not envy the oppressor. Choose none of his ways, for the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, but His secret counsel is with the upright. The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just. Surely He scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble. The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools."

Resolution number ten is to be just. He blesses the home of the just. The word "just" can also be translated as "righteous." We should be righteous in the way we deal with people and act rightly. The prophet Micah said, "He has shown you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk in humility before God."

We often want to swap "to love mercy" with "to love justice," as that is where our nature tends to go. Yet, He calls us to do what is right, to be merciful to others, and to walk in humility. I suggest that if you take some time in 2017 to apply yourself and resolve to do some of these things—yes, getting fit, getting healthy, losing weight, and so on—you will find great benefit.

A budget, spending more time with family, reading more—these things have value. They could all be good. However, Solomon said, "My son, do not forget my law. Let your heart keep my commandments. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying." I suggest that these wise man's resolutions might be at least one answer, one step in moving that direction.

So may God help us in this new year to be merciful and faithful, to trust God completely, even when we're going through things that try our minds and our hearts. We should strive to be humble, to be giving, to be teachable, to be seekers of wisdom, to be confident in the Lord, to be generous and good, to be good neighbors, and to be just. Amen.

Now, with the time we have remaining today, we want to do what we do every new year: partake of communion together. We will partake of the bread, which symbolizes the body of Jesus that was broken for us, and take of the cup that symbolizes His blood that was shed for us.

In just a couple of months, we will be studying through the book of Hebrews. As we go through this book, we will see that the old system of sacrifice, which was a part of the Old Testament—the first covenant—was never enough. It was insufficient to deal with the problem of our sin. But Jesus came and established a new covenant 2,000 years ago, and His death on the cross is enough to deal with all sin of all people at all times.

So when we partake of the bread and the cup, we are remembering that He has paid it all. It is done. It is finished. I’m going to invite our worship leaders to come back up. They will lead us as our ushers distribute the bread and the cup. Make sure you grab the bread and the cup, hold on to them, and we will partake together in just a few minutes.

Let’s pray. Father, I pray that you would help us to apply and do the things that we see in Your Word, not just here in Proverbs chapter three, but in other places as well. May we make these things a part of our lives every single day, and may You, by Your Word, transform us.

You'd sanctify us. You'd cleanse us. You'd make us more like You, Jesus. Help us to be those who are bearing the fruit of the Spirit. God, pour out Your Spirit upon Your church and begin to produce in our lives love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control, and patience— all these things, Lord. As a witness of Your glory and grace, work in us.

Now, as we dedicate this new year to You, we remember that the very reason we have received forgiveness and grace is because of Your body and Your blood—Your body broken and Your blood shed for us. Help us to keep that in our hearts and minds, not just now as we prepare to partake of communion, but as we go from this place. Do a work in Your church and through Your church, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

The Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had broken it, He gave thanks. Giving it to His disciples, He said, "This is My body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me." Let's partake together.

In the same manner, after they had eaten, He took the cup and said, "This is the cup of the new covenant in My blood. This do as often as you drink it in remembrance of Me." Let's partake together.

Lord, we know that as often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we do so proclaiming Your death until You come, knowing that You are not still dead, but You are alive. You rose from the dead and You are seated at the right hand of glory.

We trust that You will one day come again, and we look forward to that day. We know that the very fact that You have yet to come back means that there is still work for us to do in 2017. For every single person that You have brought to this place today, by Your grace, You have gifted every single one of us.

By your grace, you've called every single one of us. We are not worthy of that calling. And yet, Jesus, by your wonderful love, goodness, and grace, you have given each of us gifts and callings. We are your workmanship, created for good works that you prepared for us for this year. Good things that you have for your church and for us in 2017. I pray, God, that we would fulfill every one of those good works as we seek and follow you.

It is certain that your people, a part of this church this year, will go through difficult things and experience anxiety-producing situations. There will be highs and lows, joys and sorrows. But in every single one of those things, God, we pray that you would reign over our lives and that we would see your hand, even when we're going through trials and difficulties. Help us to be strengthened by you.

Lord, we look to you. By your Spirit, we are not sufficient of ourselves to think anything is being of ourselves, but you have given us the strength and sufficiency that we need. So, God, would you build up your church here at Cross Connection this year? Would you use us to be lights in a dark world, that people would see our good works and glorify you, our Father in heaven?

Thank you for the salvation that you've given to us and the grace that you've extended to us. I pray, God, that you would use us, your church, to extend that grace to other people. We pray all this in Jesus' name. All of us in Jesus' name.