All of us look forward to and need time away from our work and the everyday grind of life. Thus is why we look forward so much to our long weekends, days off and vacations. When it comes to weekends or vacations we try to make the most of that time. We try to squeeze in every bit of relaxation, fun activities or finish up those home projects while we can. If we don’t do anything we end up feeling unproductive and lazy. Almost as if a tremendous opportunity was wasted and before you know it you’re back to the grind. Yet when it comes to the grander scheme of life we seem almost unfazed by lack of productivity. Content with mediocrity and laziness.
Measuring Tape of value
Within the bindings of the Bible is found the greatest measuring tape ever known to mankind. It is God’s measuring tape of value. All throughout the scriptures we see what God finds truly valuable and calls us to search for those things. These things are never what we would typically put on our list of most valuable to us. Gods list isn’t topped with gold or silver, nice house, shiny cars or even a great job. But at the top of Gods list of most valuable are only things that will last for eternity. These are the things that truly matter in this life and the life to come.
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” Col. 3:2
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” Matt. 6:19-20
“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal Cor. 4:18
The Bible reminds us time and time again that our lives on this earth are not forever. Though it may seem like they are or we may even want them to be. But God uses imagery such as our lives are a vapor, a shadow, dew on the grass and smoke that floats off into the atmosphere. This life is but a brief moment. A blip on the scale of eternity. Yet we put so much stock into our jobs and our homes and we try relentlessly to find our purpose and fulfillment in the things of this fleeting life! We can get so caught up in this life that we realize we have put most of our eggs in this basket which is one tiny thread away from falling apart.
I encourage you, take time think and even write a list of all that is most valuable to you, and be brutally honest with yourself. Then hold that list of valuables up to Gods measuring tape. How many of those things will last forever? How much of what you are pursuing is fading just as fast as you are?
Don’t waste your life
What we do in this life does matter, it is important and will affect the next life. We may not all be called to be worldwide missionaries or pastors. But that doesn’t give us a license to be mediocre. It doesn’t give us the right to waste the few years we are given here on this earth. The bible tells us to
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” 1 Cor. 10:31
Let us make every effort to live this short life for the glory of Christ. Live for eternity!