Resolved

As we come upon the New Year, many will again take up the yearly exercise of committing to New Year’s resolutions. While I have never personally made it a practice to endear myself yearly to such declarations of personal discipline, many people find this exercise to be self-motivating for personal improvement. For most, January’s resolutions usually become February’s failures. It is for this reason that I have usually found the ritual to be a haven for disappointment. However, I recently came across a list of one man’s resolutions which are both inspiring and full of spiritual conviction.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was a revivalist, theologian, and pastor in the earliest days of colonial America. He is perhaps best known for preaching a sermon titled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, which along with other factors, helped to introduce the First Great Awakening (a spiritual revival in early American history). His preaching and his writing reflected the biblical truth of an omnipotent, gracious God who requires both repentance and faith. Therefore, his works are filled with reflections upon the absolute sovereignty of God and the urgent responsibility of man. In our current age in which technology has opened the door for anyone with a voice to be an expert, Jonathan Edwards’ writings reveal intellect and character for which our culture is desperately in need of hearing. In 1722 (at the age of 19), Edwards would pen a set of personal resolutions by which he aspired to live. By the end of his life, he had added to this list so that it contained seventy separate resolutions. Below are some excerpts.

Being sensible that I am unable to do any thing without God’s help, I do humbly intreat Him by His grace to enable me to keep these resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ’s sake.

Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration.

Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.

Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

Resolved, To be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

Resolved, To maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

Resolved, Never to do any thing, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

Resolved, To strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher excercise of grace, than I was the week before.

Resolved, To ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better.

Resolved, Frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism, which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722–3.

Resolved, Never hence-forward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s.

Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world.

Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

While the circumstances of our cultures may be generations apart, the standard for personal holiness and complete dependency upon God are the same in our own day as they were for Jonathan Edwards. As we embark upon a new calendar year, let us cling to Jesus, who is “the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrew 13:8). And may we strive toward God’s demand over us: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

Happy New Year!

Jason