Make The Resolution That Really Counts

A few years ago my wife and I decided to take a week’s vacation. We booked a flight which was to take off from the Indianapolis airport at 6:00am, so we decided to book a room at a motel near the airport the night before, with the added benefit that it offered free parking while we were gone. When we checked into our room, I could tell from the manager’s accent and the mark on his wife’s forehead that he was a Hindu from India.

When we returned from our vacation, realizing that we had saved money by leaving our car in the managers care, I took a $20.00 bill out of my wallet and attempted to hand it to the man as I thanked him. To my surprise, he spread his legs, put his hands behind his back and said, "I can't accept that! It was only my duty."

Amazed, as I walked away I turned to my wife and said, "I'll bet that if that man was a Christian he would have stretched out his hand and taken my money, thinking that it was a blessing from God for being faithful in taking care of my car as he promised."

Now that all the fireworks for the New Year have exploded, the dust of your celebrations has settled and you may have already broken your resolutions, how about making the one resolution that will make all the difference in your life. This resolution is to do your duty to God, community and country, regardless of the consequences to yourself.

For the last 30 years and more, many pastors and TV evangelists have tried to give Christianity what I call "sex appeal." Over and over we have heard that if we take Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we should stand on the promises of God and expect him to bless us and answer our prayers. We have been told that if we tithe to the church, the windows and doors of heaven will be opened and we can expect miracles - God will heal our bodies, our dysfunctional marriages and families, and even our finances.

It is true that Jesus tried to encourage his followers to believe in the goodness of God and to expect Him to bless us and answer our prayers. But he also taught that we should do our duty to God and to our fellow man, regardless of the consequences. And what was his reward for walking with God and always doing and saying the right thing? He lived in poverty and was forced to accept an excruciating, painful death on the cross.

The comment of this man from India helped me to reject the sex appeal of modern Christianity in favor of what may seem like old-fashioned, back to the basics Christianity. Christian ethics demands that we do what is right without expecting any reward for our good behavior.

As the New Year unfolds, why not resolve to do what is right. Fulfill your duty to God. Honor your promises. Put your hands behind your back. Great shall be your reward in the Kingdom of Heaven!



Dr. Greene is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ and a resident of Richmond, IN. He is also the author of Benjamin's Dog Joseph, Feeling Better: The Wisdom of the Doc, You Can Feel Better: How to cope with chronic pain and physical disabilities, and co-author of Walking Free: the Nellie Zimmerman Story.

For further information about his books, please visit www.densmorereid.com

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