Ringing in the New Year this year, I’ve made no resolutions. Over the past few years, I have been working on a few resolution-worthy goals with differing levels of success and un-success. And I’ll continue to. But I did go looking for old-school wisdom in Proverbs this week to think on as we start another trip around the sun. I’ve gathered them under three points and if they’re helpful to anyone beyond just me, well then by golly, Happy New Year to us all!

 

1. Recurring Little Things Are Actually Big Things. Guard Your Small But Significant Actions!

The Ant's Example: Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. - Proverbs 6:6-8

Diligence Over Haste: The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty. - Proverbs 21:5

Growth Compounds (If applied beyond finances, this is true across of our lives:) Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. - Proverbs 13:11

Small Neglects Destroy - As sure as growth compounds, "a little slumber" leads to ruin.

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. Proverbs 24:33-34. (Broader context - Prov 24:30-34)

 

2. The Heart-Reality of Identity In Christ Must Be Consistently Worked Out In Action, Over Time.

Outward Virtue Will Reveal My Heart: Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. - Proverbs 4:23

Outward Virtue Will Reveal My Mind: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he" - Proverbs 23:7 KJV

Outward Virtue Will Create My Reputation:

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. - Proverbs 20:11

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. - Proverbs 22:1

 

3. The Lord’s Salvation Leads Us Into The Lord's Way. (As in, “Hey Pastor T.J. - Pastoring’s swell and all, but are you walking in the Lord’s way on the narrow path?)

Ponder The Path of Your Feet:

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.

Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil. - Proverbs 4:25-27

Parenting (And More) Is For The Long-Run: Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. - Proverbs 22:6

Righteousness Looks Like A Tree (Not Grass, Not Weeds): Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers… (For) the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. - Psalm 1:1-3 & 6

 

May God bless you and make you a blessing to others today and in this new year. 

I begin 2026 thankful for all of you and for New Life Church. I hope it’s the same for you!