This message is very loosely based on a reading from John 10:7-11.

I’m doing something very different for today’s message. It’s something that was inspired by an internet conference that I watched several weeks ago that was geared to Senior Pastors, but I thought it was such good stuff that everybody might benefit from it, especially on the New Year’s Day! So I re-packaged it for a message today.

The New Year gives us sort of a built in break for stopping to reflect on the things past, and look forward for the things to come. So the title, Wrap UP/Ramp UP, essentially wraps up last year, and at the same time, ramps up for next year. We’re going to look at six areas of your life this morning, and I’m going to ask you some questions about how you are doing in those areas.

What I would like from you is a humble but serious attitude of introspection. So many of us find ourselves struggling just to get through the day. We just want to survive today. This challenge. This trial. This struggle. Then, maybe, we’ll see what’s ahead. But for the next twenty minutes or so, let’s try to get past that mindset and think seriously about how things are going, and how we might be able to make them better.

Why? Why is this something worth hearing on a Sunday Morning? Did Jesus say, “I came so they may have life, but just barely, so they can struggle and strive to just get through each day.” That’s not hardly what he said. In John 10:10, He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Listen to the way Eugene Peterson interpreted that verse in The Message: “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” That’s what Jesus wants for you. A better life than you have ever dreamed of. That sounds pretty good to me. So let’s be honest with ourselves this morning, no one else is going to see your notes, so let’s be honest. Because really, the only way to improve your situation, is to improve yourself.

The six areas that we’re going to look at are the emotional, spiritual, relational, physical, financial, and intellectual. In each area, I’m going to ask you some questions. I would like to be honest with yourselves and make some notes on the handouts, and give some serious thought to each question. How did you do at this last year? If you did good, will doing the same thing achieve the same results, or will you need to mix things up a little to keep getting the desired effect. If you didn’t do so good, what can you change so you can better next year?

Let’s get started. Let’s look at the Emotional area. What drains you emotionally? What activities really make you feel exhausted emotionally? The opposite of this, what fills you emotionally? What activities can you do all day and never get tired out? The simple answer here is to just do less of those things that drain us emotionally, and do more of those things that fill us emotionally. Sounds really easy, right? 

I think one way to look at this is to work in the areas that you are Spiritually gifted in. It probably pretty safe to assume that if something really exhausts you emotionally, that’s probably not an area that God gave you a special gift to be able to do. The things you can do all day and never get tired of them, those are the areas He has given you a special gift in. So try to limit the work you have to do outside your area of giftedness, and try to do more of those things that you are gifted in. Stick with your spiritual gifts. 

Something else to think about in the emotional area: Is there anyone that you may have wronged this past year, and you need to seek their forgiveness? That can be a major roadblock. Jesus once told us that if we went to the alter to offer a sacrifice, but while there, remembered that someone had something against us, leave it there, don’t offer it, first, go and make things right. Then come back and offer the sacrifice with a clean heart. 

Similarly, is there anyone you need to forgive? Did someone wrong you this past year, and you just can’t forgive them. We can get a little stubborn sometimes. We can get prideful, and refuse to forgive. Honestly, if that’s where you are, you are probably thinking way more of yourself than you should. Humble yourself, forgive them, and move on. 

The next area is the Spiritual area. Are you closer to God right now than you were last January 1? There is no status quo in relationships. I always tell folks in pre-marriage counseling that you are always either growing closer together, or drifting further apart. And if things are left to their natural state, with time, you will drift apart. Without constant effort, you will begin to drift apart. The same is true with our relationship with God. There is no status quo, you’re either growing closer to God, or you’re drifting away from God. Without constant effort, you will begin to drift away. So how did you do last year? Are you growing or drifting?

I’m becoming more and more convinced that Sabbath days are really important. Did you honor a Sabbath day last year? Do you have one scheduled for this year? A day of rest that nothing can interfere with. I confess that’s an area that I haven’t so good with. And I read enough that suggests that it’s important, that I know I need to work on that this year. I believe God desires us to honor the Sabbath. I don’t think He cares what day you choose to do it, but I think He does care very much that you do it. That’s how He designed us, he created us to have a day of rest every week. He even modeled it: For six days He created, on the seventh He rested. Make sure you do, too.

Next is the relational area. How are you doing with your relationships? First, if you have a spouse, how is that relationship going?  Would you rate your marriage a 10? A little more convicting, would your spouse rate your marriage a 10? You might want to talk about this over a candlelight dinner sometime. What will it take to make it a 10 next year?

If you have kids at home, how about asking that same question to your kids. Would you rate our family a 10. Maybe when they stop laughing you might want to ask them what they think could make it a 10. Short of ice cream and cake for dinner every night, is there anything that could make our family better? What can we do to make our family stronger?

Next area is the physical area. This one gets a lot of attention in New Year’s resolutions. The first question to think about is what is your weight? Do you need to loose weight? Do you need to gain weight? Some people have actually lost weight without trying to, and are a little under where they should be. A lot of people make resolutions to loose weight. Do you need to?

Should you be getting more exercise? Many of us, and I say us because I’m definitely included, have just become too sedentary. We don’t get the exercise we need. Do you need to join a gym? Do you need to start walking more? Maybe add some sit-ups or pushups to your daily routine.

Do you have a physical scheduled? Will you be getting one this year? Make sure you do. A physical can catch a lot of things while it’s still easily treatable. So make sure you don’t skip out on this. Do you know your key numbers (blood pressure, cholesterol, resting pulse rate, body mass index – or BMI). These can be indicators of a potential problem, especially if they change.

The next area is the financial area. How are you doing financially? How is your debt level? Do you know your credit score? Do you have some debt that is pinching? I have a confession to make in this area. Our time in Florida really added some debt, and it’s something we’re addressing this year. How about you? Are you debt free? Or is it time to get serious about debt?

Do you balance your bank account? That may seem like a silly question to ask adults, but a lot people don’t. They trust what the bank says they have, and don’t keep track of things that haven’t cleared. But I think it’s important – you’re responsible for your money. Don’t just let it go.

How is your giving? Are you tithing? Very few people do, but yet that is the level God wants to us to be giving. If you don’t, can you work toward a tithe, giving a full 10% of your income?  Is that something you can begin to work toward? Sandy and I were just like most of you, we gave about $5 a week, sometimes more, sometimes nothing. But we became convicted about being right with God, and we saw that He wanted a tithe, so we started to build up to that point. When we started, every increase in salary I got for the next couple of years went to the church until we were at the 10% level. That way, it never really hurt. We were living on that much before, so it was no big deal. Now we tithe. And I can honestly say that I’ve personally seen the benefits of tithing. Because it puts you in a position where you trust God in an area of your life that maybe you haven’t trusted Him before. And He will honor that.

The last area concerns the intellectual area. How have you stretched your mind in the last year? If you’re still in school, that’s easy. But if you’re out of school, it’s a little harder. Are you reading? What are you reading? Do you have a reading goal for this next year? Would you like to read a certain number of books next year? Next month?

What are you listening to or watching? Are you stuck in front of the TV every spare moment? Do you watch or listen to recorded sermon messages or seminars? You should always be involved in something to stretch your mind, to continue growing intellectually.

What is your calling? God never called anybody to be retired from everything. He has a plan for your life, something He wants you involved in. Do you know what it is? If not, will you commit to a time of fasting and prayer until you discover it? Then will you do it?