Jesus challenged his disciples and us to have a different focus. In John 4:31-35 the disciples displayed the same inward focus that is common in man today. They spoke among themselves asking, "hath any man brought him anything to eat?" Jesus was speaking of spiritual nourishment and they were thinking of physical food. We are reminded of Jesus instruction in Matthew 6:25, "Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than food and the body than raiment?" These are the things we tend to think about rather than the spiritual dimension.
Jesus helped his disciples to get the new focus as he painted the picture of the fields being white unto harvest and called for laborers to go in and reap that harvest. Further, He challenged them with this thought: "My food is to do the will of him that sent me.." God has a purpose for each of us today and in the year ahead. It is not to gather material things or gain personally. It is to adopt his vision of folks all around us being drawn into his kingdom. The new year may include successes and failures, but they will all pale in comparison to the work God has for each of us to do. What new ministry for the Lord will your new year hold? Ask him and He will show you.