Nick Meeder | Way Finders

In the coming year, if you want to achieve your New Year’s goals, it is going to take a new level of dedication. If you’ve tried to do something for the last two or three years and failed, maybe you need a new strategy. I’ve heard a good definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over, but expecting a different result. This year, to stick to your new goal, you have to buckle down and exercise some self-discipline. The difficulty is training yourself to love discipline. We love what it produces, but the exercise thereof is very difficult. Why is discipline so difficult? We live in a culture that glorifies that which makes us feel good. The issue is that what makes us feel good (pleasure) usually leads to a poor, regretful and less fulfilled life. Don Miller, in his “Storyline: Creating Your Life Plan,” discusses the works of Dr. Viktor Frankl, a Viennese psychologist who was in Nazi concentration camps and helped those suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts. Frankl rejected Freud’s idea that man’s chief desire is pleasure and that his behavior can be predicted based on how he gets pleasure. Frankl, however, in his research said that a person’s chief aim in life is to have a deep sense of meaning and purpose. However, when a person does not have that purpose, he or she will numb that desire with pleasure. Thus, I believe we live in a culture that is numbing the desire for meaning and purpose with pleasure, because it is easier than the pain of discipline. The bible speaks of this condition in human kind. It is the war between the flesh and the Spirit.

“For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:8-10 ESV) “But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” (1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV) “…for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:8 ESV) “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11 ESV)

Which will you choose in the coming year: the harvest of discipline, or the harvest of pleasure?

 

Here is a brief overview of what I covered in the video.

1. As the new year approaches, many of us will set New Year’s resolutions
2. I wanted you to reflect on a passage of scripture that is useful in thinking about the coming year and what you might want to accomplish
3. Psalm‬ ‭90‬:‭12‬ ESV – “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
4. • If we number our days, then our priorities come into alignment
   • When our priorities are aligned, we “get a heart of wisdom” because it is obvious what really matters
5. I’m going to pose a question to you: if this coming year of 365 days would be your last 365 days to live, what would you do? What relationships would you develop or mend? What do you want to be remembered for by those who are close to you?
6. It’s going to take three things
7. • A Specific Plan
   • Disciplined Intentionality
   • And Diligent Work
8. I’m including a link to Michael Hyatt’s “5 Days to Your Best Year Ever.” No, it’s not an affiliate link. As a matter of fact, none of the links on this blog are. I simply want to give my readers access to great resources.

Over the past Christmas week, I’ve been reflecting on a passage of scripture that has gradually gotten deeper and deeper each time I think about it. This particular passage is quoted frequently in reference to generosity, but today, I wanted to draw out more of the spiritual depth in it.

The passage is Malachi 3:6-12

6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.

“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’

8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.

“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’

“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.

First, God establishes His authority and mercy and that He doesn’t change; therefore, the descendants of Jacob have not been wiped off the face of the earth.

Second, God exposes an issue. They constantly turn away from Him and they are robbing Him.

Third, God gives the remedy. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse.

Fourth, if they bring the whole tithe and offering into the storehouse, then they would not be under a curse. God would pour out a tremendous blessing, so much so, they won’t be able to contain it.

Here are the spiritual implications: if you feel far from God, maybe you’re robbing Him. Specifically in withholding what is due to Him. Second, your tithe and offering should be an act of worship! It is one way that we can return to God and understand His heart. When you give in church, is it an act of worship from your heart? The time of offering in church should be a continuation of the worship service. Third, do you realize that giving your tithe and offering is spiritual warfare?! God said, “You are under a curse – your whole nation – because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse… I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe.”

I’d like to share a personal experience from this past Christmas week about giving. First, giving is one of the greatest and spiritually beneficial activities you can participate in. Second, when you openly and freely give, you experience peace, contentment and joy. All of which money cannot buy. I will not go into details. However, this past Christmas has been one of the best and most rewarding Christmases my wife, Kate, and I have ever had. Not because of stuff, but because of the blessing we could be to other people. We’ve really felt like God has thrown open the floodgates of heaven and poured out so much blessing that we’ve not had room enough to store it.

In the American culture, we’re so blessed that we gauge our success and happiness based on what we don’t have. ‘If I could just have that higher paying job, then I’d be content because we’d have enough money.’ ‘If I could just win the lottery, then all my problems would be solved forever.’ ‘I would give my tithe and offering to the church if my income wasn’t so strapped by my debt.’ You get the idea. What’s your excuse? What is your heart holding onto? What are you robbing God (and yourself) of?

If you want another great lesson in giving, check out Andy Stanley’s “Be Rich”.

As Christmas approaches I wanted to exhort you in giving your gifts.

For a few years past, Christmas wasn’t a Holiday I looked forward to. As a matter of fact, it was more of a necessary evil that I had to participate in. I also gauged how good of a Christmas I had based on what I received. Have you ever done that?

It wasn’t that fun giving to people and I just didn’t enjoy it. I was more concerned about what I wanted than blessing other people. Many times I forget what really matters. Our culture is so commercialized that our psychology starts to adapt to the perpetual idea that we’ll be content as soon as I have that next thing. When we have the next thing, it gets old and the glamor of the fulfillment it promised fades away, so we then look to the next thing.

Now, think about your life. How has this impacted your life?

It’s not our commercialized culture’s fault, but your’s and mine for adopting the idea that a product, person or thing could give us the fulfillment we desire.

Christmas changed for me when I realized that I’m not an owner of anything I have. I am a manager of God’s resources. God gave His Son and you and I are created in His image. Therefore, when we give, we are reflecting God’s character.

When you give during this Christmas, give with no strings attached because you’re not an owner you’re a manager of God’s world. When you don’t emotionally hold onto “your” stuff, it is much easier to bless someone else’s life and let go of it. The person you’re giving to needs it more than you, and it order for you to grow in Christ, you need to let go of your identity in “stuff.” Giving freely has been one of the most fun, rewarding and freeing activity I’ve gotten to participate in once I understood why and how God wants me to give.

This Christmas, enjoy giving!

I recently ran into a gentleman who was older than me. We work for different companies but we were in the same building. My company is a subcontractor to the company he worked for. We had conversed a few times before and I in general thought he was a really likable, jovial, yet driven individual.

Well, recently, I was eating lunch in the common break area and he came in to heat up a can of soup in the microwave. While he waited for it to heat up, we started talking and as our conversation progressed, I decided to ask him some questions. The following four questions are ones that Don Miller uses to discover someone’s story. I wanted to know this man’s story since I found him interesting and wanted to understand what he thought his purpose was.

The first question I asked was, “How do people describe you?” He said that other people would describe him as driven or an achiever. “I like getting results and not just talking about something in theory,” was one such reply. His answer to the question was rather shorter than I thought it would be and made for an abrupt stop in our conversation.

So I proceeded to the second question, “If there’s one main thing you want in life, what is it?” He replied that he just wanted to be happy and content. In his early years, he spent too much time trying to achieve a title. Now, he’s happy simply being content where he is at. This second question started to get him thinking, though, and he took a little longer than the first question to answer it. There were more pauses and points where he leaned up against the wall, hands in his pockets and eyes looking at the ceiling tiles and then back to me sitting at the lunch table.

The third question: “What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome in life?” “The biggest challenge was trying to achieve the title,” He said. “I was in sales and sold furniture, and later, life insurance. The companies I worked for were really crooked and I did not enjoy it. It was during those times that I tried to achieve my title. However, now that I’m married and have two children, the biggest challenge I’m trying to overcome is being a father to my child who has autism.” While he took his time to speak, I realized something. The questions I was asking were very intimate questions and had started to break down the social barriers around his heart as he shared more. I realized that I was in a very delicate position. Here is a man I barely knew who was sharing his hopes, fears, and dreams with me. I needed to be very careful in holding this man’s inner being.

The fourth question: “When you die, what do you want to have been known for?” “I want to have been known for caring and being happy in life,” was his reply. He then went on to cite a study that was conducted on people between the ages of 65 and older. These people had been successful in their fields of study or endeavor and the one thing they wished for was that they’d spent more time with family and those who mattered instead of chasing after the title. He went on to say that people just want to know that you care for them and that you appreciate them.

At the end, he chuckled at me and asked, “Does Psychologist, Nick, have any more questions?” as he took his soup out of the microwave and took out a spoon to eat. I chuckled back and replied, “No.” He left and went back to his office, and I sat in the break room, stunned and touched at the story of an eternal being I had just connected with.

…Wow, how interesting people are. I never would have known that he’s dealing with a child who has autism if I hadn’t asked those questions. I have a greater empathy and respect for him because he is not scared of the challenge, yet, it is still a challenge none the less that is molding his character. I gained much insight from his perspective having chased after the title, made really good money, yet found that true contentment is in enjoying life with those you love and care about.

Today, I know that you have to get stuff done. You have errands to run and places to be. However, enjoy the moments that today brings and concentrate on being fully present and engaged with those you love and care about. Maybe you need to mend a relationship or tell someone you’re sorry. Whatever it is, be fully present and connect with those around you. People want to be known and appreciated, so serve someone by being fully present today.