Judy Robinson shares extracts from a Sermon she prepared for a January service. The key Scripture was I Corinthians 1;10-18. Do you make New Year’s resolutions? Promises to yourself that you will do—or will not do—certain things in the coming year?

Some people take this very seriously. They proclaim, while eating their third sausage roll at the New Year’s party, “This year I am going to lose 5 kilograms!” It is a worthy goal. Everyone applauds and thinks of what resolution they could make … Visions of inspiring meetings and supportive exercise coaches beckon them on.

For some, it works. But others find the only gym sessions they could get to are fully booked; the cost of the food they are supposed to be eating is more than expected. After a while, the resolution is quietly shelved.

We may have similar experiences of making promises in our Christian life.

“I will join the Bible Study group.” “I will be a leader for the youth group.” And it starts so well. Then you may find that some of the people in the Bible Study group don’t agree with your understanding of scripture, and end up dominating the discussions. Or the youth group members don’t sit and listen to your words of wisdom with shining eyes and murmurs of ‘Amen!’ ‘Hallelujah!’ They’re far too busy texting their friends and planning to meet after the session finishes.

In the reading from 1 Corinthians, Paul is appealing to the church members to agree in what they say, so there are no divisions among them. This may be Paul’s earnest wish and fervent prayer, but it is also totally unrealistic.

With the benefit of studies that Paul didn’t have, we now know that probably no two people ever agree exactly on the same thing. That’s because no two people are exactly the same, not even identical twins. Everybody has different experiences, and these make them react in different ways.

One person, on meeting a bouncy yappy dog, may say, “Here fella! Go fetch that stick”. Another may say, “Keep that dog away from me! I don’t like dogs!” with the memory of being bitten by another such bouncy yappy dog.

Paul states there are things not open for discussion, like the intrusion of personalities into Christ’s Church. All this, “I follow Apollos’—Peter—Paul—Billy Graham—Pope Francis”. And yet to give them their due, every one of those named would immediately say, “I am only God’s servant. Follow Christ. Don’t serve the servant. Serve God.”

As God’s servants, we may have the task of bringing the Good News of the Gospel. We may have the task of mentoring and guiding those who are seeking to understand and accept. We may have the task of making the morning tea.

May we rejoice to be part of God’s family of faithful servants, who despite our human faults and failings, seek to do what we can in caring for God’s loved children and creation.