As we forge into the fog and freedom of a new year, many of us consider making New Year’s resolutions. And while most of us think better of it before we get too carried away, we have at least considered the possibility of taking better care of our bodies, reforming our finances or securing a ticket for that trip of a lifetime, just to name a few common resolutions.
Whether you are a resolutioner or not, have you ever considered that most of the new commitments we contemplate each January are self-centered rather than other-centered? We tend to focus on improving our self-image or satisfying our curiosity, rather than on growing in compassion and generosity or on being a better friend, neighbor, or family member. This isn’t to say that these two categories of resolutions are mutually exclusive. If we take better care of our bodies and finances, we may be able to serve those around us with more energy and resources. However, we live in a cultural context that thrives on creating discontent with how we look and what we have and convincing us that we are most likely missing out on the latest fad or destination.
This self-centered focus can broadly be categorized by the popular terms, self-care and self-love. And while we no doubt need to take care of ourselves and grow to accept and appreciate our individual uniqueness, for Christians, the words of Jesus recorded by Luke reverberate uncomfortably through the centuries when he says, Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it, (Luke 17:33, NIV). The Apostle John preserves an even stronger version of Jesus’ maxim – Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life, (John 12:25, NIV). Really, Jesus, I have to hate my life to find it or keep it? What in the world is he talking about? Understanding what Jesus means by the word translated as world in our English Bibles will help us consider his bold declaration more accurately.
The Greek word kosmos, most frequently translated world in our English Bibles, usually has more to do with the world order or worldly systems than with the planet or the people. Jesus isn’t saying that we must lose or hate the earth or our neighbors to find the eternal life that he is calling us to. Instead, Jesus is provocatively inviting us to recognize and reject the emptiness and destructive nature of a world system based on fear, greed, pride, lust, consumption and a me-first mindset, and to embrace the other-centered, faith-based and sacrificial philosophy he preached and practiced.
In another place, Jesus says: For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it, (Matthew 7:13-14, NIV). Here, Jesus warns us that it’s not enough to reject the easy road that leads to destruction; we must actively seek the road less traveled that leads to the eternal life found in and through him. We all know that it’s easier to go along with the crowd, to maintain the status quo, than to follow the Jesus way of God-honoring, other-centered love. But that truly is the path to the life we were created for.
All of this leads me to Paul’s words in his letter to the Philippians:
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God, (Philippians 1:9-11, NIV).
Paul isn’t saying that the Philippian believers aren’t following the Jesus way of sacrificial love; he’s affirming that they are and exhorting them to do so more and more. But the abounding love that Paul prays for the Philippian believers to grow in isn’t sentimental or generalized. Paul prays that their love may abound in knowledge and depth of insight, so that they may discern what is best and stand with confidence and a clear conscience before God on the day of Christ.
We all want to be better lovers, as it were, of our families, friends and neighbors, even of those people we don’t know but recognize their need for community, security and justice. But we often fall short in our attempts to love well, or lack the wisdom and perspective to know what to do or how to do it. This is why Paul prays that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight. We need the presence, power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live and love like Jesus in a world flooded with information and permeated with a me-first mentality. This is why we must prioritize prayer, scripture reading, worship, and Christian fellowship over doomscrolling on our social media feeds, fixating on the news, or anesthetizing ourselves with mindless distractions and endless pleasure-seeking.
To put it another way, and recalling Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:33, if we seek first his kingdom – his will – and his righteousness – or justice – which are grounded in the love of God for this world’s people, rather than worldly systems, everything else we need, including the ability to love like Jesus, will be given to us. This is our challenge and our opportunity in this new year: to continue to grow in our ability to love consistently and well by seeking Jesus and his will and way before my own.
When I consider all of this and the words of the Apostle Paul, I’m reminded of our church family – of you. As pastor of CCC, I regularly observe and experience the depth and consistency of this community’s Christ-like love for one another. And as we head into a new year, I would offer the same affirmation and exhortation to us; let’s keep at it! – loving each other and our neighbors near and far more and more.
—Pastor Scott