Predictions for the New Year

I’m sure you’ve noticed that each year almost all the major newsmagazines put out an issue with special pictorial sections recalling people and events that made news during the previous year. Many of the magazines also include articles by experts predicting what they expect to see happening in the years ahead. A few of these predictions have proven amazingly accurate, while others couldn’t have been more wrong. I remember my senior year in high school, experts predicted that by 1985 technology would have taken over so much of the work we do that the average American work week would be only 22 hours long and that we would work only 27 weeks a year. As a result, one of our biggest problems would be in deciding what to do with all our leisure time. Well, I don’t know about you, but that prediction certainly missed the mark as far as my life was concerned!

In fact, most of us seem to be very busy people. We’re always in a hurry. We walk fast, talk fast, and eat fast. And after we eat, all too often, we stand up and say, "Excuse me. I’ve gotta run." Someone observed, "We’re the only country in the world that has a mountain named `Rushmore.’" Steve Wright, a comedian, says that he bought a microwave fireplace, and now he can spend a whole evening in front of the fire in only 8 minutes.

So here we are, beginning the first full week of 2012. I wonder how we’ll do this year? Will we be as busy? Will we make any better use of our time? In 365 days, when it is all over, will we be looking back with joy, or with regret? Will we be looking at the future with anticipation, or with dread? There is a passage of Scripture that I believe can be of help to us as we look forward to the year

“So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do.” (Ephesians 5:15-17 NLV).

I think that in this passage the Apostle Paul presents some important lessons that we need to consider. Let me suggest two practical things to do this year.

1. First of all, we must be very careful how we live because our time on this earth is limited. The Psalmist also tells us to number our days so that we will develop a heart of wisdom. Time is the only irreplaceable resource we have. Once it is spent, it is gone forever. Use your time wisely in the pursuit of His will purpose in your life.

2. Second, we must make the most of every opportunity, but don’t become overloaded. We’re overloaded with commitments. We’ve committed ourselves to go here and there, to take part in this activity and that social function. As a result we soon begin meeting ourselves coming and going because we have overloaded ourselves in the area of commitments. The same is true with our possessions, work, and even information. We simply can’t absorb it all. We need to simplify our lives. We need to slow down.