A blog written by the Generous Giving team
The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. According to Google, most New Year's Resolutions in our times are to exercise more, lose weight and get organised, but I guess with both ancient and modern the intention is the same. The new year gives the opportunity to have a fresh start and to begin anew.
For early Christians, the first day of the new year became the traditional occasion for thinking about past mistakes and resolving to do and be better in the future. Although there is nothing in the Bible about New Year’s resolutions, many still do take the advantage of this time of year to consider their spiritual health and commit to becoming closer to God, perhaps pray more, take up a daily bible routine or commit to getting to church.
If you are looking for some ideas for your New Year’s resolutions, here are a few generosity themed acts you may want to consider;
Practice gratitude: try nurturing a grateful heart and express thanks to God and others on a daily basis. View every situation as an opportunity to express gratitude “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name!”
Seize the opportunity: there is much celebration and mourning, joy and sorrow in peoples’ lives; could you be a blessing to others? The gift of your presence through small acts is more valuable than you realise (Be inspired by this one-minute clip https://youtu.be/eKCb0vrCSoY)
Give more: good stewards know that everything they have is entrusted to them as a gift to be shared. There is no better place to begin than sharing with the family that gathers around the Lord’s table. Consider what you are giving to your church and commit to an even greater contribution as circumstances allow.
Make a difference in your community: offering your talents to your community is one of the most effective ways to feel useful and connected to others, and it is a potentially life-changing
Consider living more simply: belongings cannot bring us fulfilment, they add nothing to our self-worth. Jesus said “life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Rejecting excess and learning to live with only what you truly need can be very liberating.
Turn to the Lord: apparently 80% of New Year resolutions are forgotten by February. In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul writes: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength”. If God is the centre of our goals, we have a better chance for success.
And if we fail some days to live out our newfound best intentions, remember that he is always there for us with open arms offering grace in abundance.
Happy 2024!