“RENDER UNTO THE EMPEROR THAT WHICH IS DUE TO THE EMPEROR, AND UNTO GOD THAT WHICH IS DUE TO GOD!”

I am sure you are wondering where I am going with this. I am here talking about New Year resolutions and how to make such an exercise beneficial. Many have come to make it a point of duty to make New Year resolutions as one year rolls into another. A person might make a resolution to set clear goals for the New Year. It could be a decision to drop an undesirable habit, or a general guide as to how the next 12 months is to be spent.

If the reason behind this effort is genuine and focused on what is noble, uplifting, pure, and not meant to harm our fellow men, then certainly it is a well meant practice and should be encouraged.

One must add quickly that in setting our goals, we need to ensure that we do not focus solely on setting earthly goals. No doubt we may not forget or disregard earthly necessities with impunity but at the same time they must not become the principal aim of our thoughts and actions.

Jesus already long ago demanded that we fulfil both material, earthly or mundane responsibilities on the one hand and spiritual responsibilities on the other hand. Hence He told us “Render unto the Emperor that which is due to the Emperor, and unto God that which is due to God!” —

Furthermore, in setting our earthly goals let us steer clear of self-aggrandizement, crass materialistic ambition and vanity.  Inordinate ambition to amass material wealth, break sports record, to strive to be the envy of others, buying the latest phones, cars or jets and all such “achievements” brings no blessing to humanity, no progress, and no gain for anyone’s existence in this Creation, but only encourages people to fritter away their time upon earth.

Instead, our priority should be to consider that which helps in our spiritual ascent, furthers Creation in which we are permitted to live and improves the lives of our fellow men. We need to have goals which are high, noble, good and ideal. Let us have a spiritual aim, high goals for eternity, to look upwards and ascend. Also, an ideal aim and prayer is to plead for strength finally to pull ourselves together for permanent improvement, humbly strive to throw off all former stubbornness, and joyfully greet the Word of Truth from the Light as redemption!

Our resolution or firm decision will be well directed therefore if it is focused on the observance of the Laws of God. Let us also fulfill our earthly obligations be it in work, business or to the government by observing earthly laws.

I wish you a happy New Year. May our lives and the years ahead of us be blissful as we think upon God and His Will at all times!