Financial and Spiritual New Year’s Resolutions

Many people will make New Year’s Resolutions this evening. Many people will commit to stop drinking or smoking or will commit to losing weight or similar resolutions. But I recently saw this chart and I thought that it’s a great idea. Save the number of dollars per week that match the week in the coming year. If you really do this, you could save nearly $1,400 by the end of 2015 and even it becomes too tough to save around $50 a week toward the end of the year, you still could realistically save around $1,000 in the coming year, by using this simple but effective method. Please see the chart below:

I really encourage you to follow this savings plan in 2015. But as wonderful as it is, and as wonderful as it would be to stop smoking or stop drinking or lose weight, the most important New Year’s Resolution should be a spiritual resolution. Are you saved? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you surrendered your life completely to the sinless Son of God that shed His blood for guilty sinners like you and me? Have you repented and put your faith in Jesus? If not, why don’t you come to Jesus right now? Start the New Year off right. Be saved tonight. Resolve to make financial and spiritual New Year’s Resolutions.

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:6-9). Seek the Lord. Forsake your wicked ways. Cry out for the Lord to have mercy on you. Turn from your sins and turn to Jesus.

If you are already saved, are you still close to God? Does your life produce fruit or works for the Lord? You know that your works didn’t and can’t save you, but you will have works after you are truly saved. Does your life show it? Are you still close to God? Do you share your faith in Jesus Christ with others? Do you read the Bible every day? Do you love your neighbor as you love yourself? How is your prayer life? If you are not as close to God as you once were, why don’t you commit to drawing near to God this New Year?

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded (James 4:7-8). Cry out for God to cleanse you. Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil. Resist the pleasures of the flesh. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Keep your eyes on the Master. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Yes, in the New Year, make some smart financial resolutions. Cut back on spending and save more money. Follow the chart above as close as you can and you will be amazed at the amount of money that you will save by the end of the year. (And tithing 10% to your local church goes without saying). But as important as being good stewards is, really concentrate on your spiritual growth in 2015. If you are an unrepentant sinner, please humbly come to Jesus and be saved. If you are already saved, draw near to God this New Year. Draw near to God and pray that He uses you mightily in the upcoming year to help further His kingdom.