Have a “Humble” New Year!

Well, it is that time of year when people make new year resolutions and when we wish each other a “Happy New Year”.  I don’t wish to go “all humbug” (if I can mix seasons) with the happy new year idea but I think there are more important things we can wish for each other.  Today as I was reading through the Old Testament, I came to chapter 17 of Deuteronomy where God talks about the behavior of kings.  God says that the king should read from a copy of the law “that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren…”  When I read that I was reminded of the admonition that is given by the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 3:6 that an overseer in the church should not be a novice, “lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil”.  Isn’t it interesting that in both the Old and New Testaments, leaders are warned to avoid pride.  I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise because we know that Satan himself fell into sin through pride, wanting to be like the most high God.

Maybe this year instead of wishing each other a happy new year we should shoot for something more meaningful like a humble new year.  I think that this is within our grasp, with God’s help of course.  Like the advice given to the kings, reading God’s “law” or in our case, the entire Bible will clearly help us to remain humble.  By reading of the majesty, power, grace and love of God we see ourselves in the right position relating to God.  By reading of all the mistakes that God’s people have made we see our own quick propensity to sin and make mistakes.  By reading of God’s forgiveness of others, we are reminded of our own humble need for forgiveness and our need to forgive others.  For me, the word of God puts me in my place…not in a mean way but in a meaningful way.

So, perhaps, let me be the first to wish you a “Humble New Year”!  May 2016 be filled with humility and dependence on our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.