Priorities

If today was your last day and you knew it, how much time would you spend on things that mean nothing in the scope of eternity? Your minutes would be extremely valuable, and you would choose to spend them on the things that were most important to you. The things of the world would seem pointless—almost offensive to your spirit. You would want to love those dearest to you, and to make sure they know how much they mean to you. You would be righting any wrongs and working out anything that had come between you. If you have ever come face to face with death or been with a loved one through a life-threatening illness and seen their priorities realign, you understand this. Everything becomes abundantly clear in those moments. The only thing that matters is love.

In good times and rough times, the happiness and joy that Jesus can give you is light years beyond anything that the world can offer. Fulfillment, peace, love, satisfaction, knowledge, truth—there is no way that the world can compete with Him in those areas. It takes discipline of mind and body to learn to treasure those things above the fleeting pleasures that the world has to offer. It’s a matter of satisfying your heart and mind more than your five senses. When it comes down to it, that’s really all the world can give you—temporary satisfaction of sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. But beyond those things, nothing the world has can satisfy the other cravings in your soul. Only Jesus can really satisfy. He is the answer. But as long as you’re still looking for the things of this world to satisfy and make you happy, you won’t find the truth. (1 John 2:15–17)

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Our souls receive personality from God. They are designed to be filled by Him. The danger for us all comes when we crowd them full of our own petty ambitions and our shortsighted ideas of fulfillment and leave no room for the work that must be done in us.—William Kirk Kilpatrick

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Mark 8:36-37 ESV / For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?

Colossians 1:16-17 ESV / For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Proverbs 24:27 ESV / Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.