Temporary or Eternal?

Philippians 1:9-10 (NLT), “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.”

What really matters?  How do we decide what gets our time, money, and attention?  If you are like me, it is easy to get distracted by things that might be low level priorities.  Things that will eat away at the precious little time I have to use each day.  The key is to find out what God's priorities are and to align ours with his.  Matthew 6:33 (NLT), “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else…”

Following are some priorities I see in the Word:

Prayer:  Luke 5:16 (NLT), “But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.” We see here that prayer was a priority for Jesus.  If the Savior of the world needed to spend time in prayer, how much more do we, weak, frail humans need to spend time in prayer? 

Study of the Word:  2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV), “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 

Eternal things: 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV), “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Reaching the Lost: Mark 16:15 (NIV), “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”

Love: John 13:34-35 (NIV), “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”   Matthew 5:44 (NIV), “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”

Fellowship: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT), “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”  Proverbs 27:17 (NLT), “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

There are also many examples in the Word of people who had wrong or unbalanced priorities. 

Storing up treasures on earth:  Luke 12:16-21 (NIV), “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.’ And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ ‘Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.’  But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’  “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV), “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Selfish Desires (Unconcern for the needs of others):  Luke 16:19-31 (NLT), “Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. ‘Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’”

Household Cares: Luke 10:38-42 (NLT), “As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.’ But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

As can be seen in the story of Mary and Martha, priorities have weight or value.  In the case of Martha, it was not wrong for her to desire to make things nice for Jesus and his disciples.  But she forgot that spending time with the Master has more value/weight than working for the Master.  Mary, on the other hand, chose the priority with the greatest value.  She could do housework and prepare meals after she had spent time with Jesus.

Like Martha, we often give more of our time and attention to things that should have less value and not as much time to things that should have greater value.  For instance, if having a spotless house takes priority over spending time with family and friends, the values are skewed.  Is it wrong to want a clean house? No, however, when we get to heaven will a few stray dust bunnies matter anymore?  The time we invest in relationships will matter for eternity.  Each life we touch for the Kingdom will mean another soul pulled from the grip of the enemy; another brother or sister with whom we will worship our Savior.

When we invest too much time on low level priorities, we miss out on the opportunity to spend our time on the top level priorities.  We must pray and seek God.  Asking him to help us prioritize our lives to best meet the daily needs of ourselves and our family, while investing more time on the top level priorities (those that align with his).  

Temporary or Eternal?

By Melissa Larabee

Each day as you turn to me I’ll give you eyes to see, the temporary things in life, the things of eternity.

My goal for you is to learn the difference between, the things that look important now and the things unseen.

I’m always working for your good; to teach you along the way, how to see the value in the things you do each day. 

The way you spend your time and strength; the value that you place upon, the things I put in your path as we journey on.

Some things should have priority, like prayer and studying my Word.  But sometimes you’re so busy with other things, my voice cannot be heard.

When the things of this world begin to drown out my voice, it’s in that moment my child, that you must make the choice. 

I’ll never force you to come to me, never demand my way.  But when you fail to spend time with my on your back all your burdens lay.

When you feel the pressures of this life welling up inside, remember, it was to see you through that I bled and died.

You were never meant to carry all the things you do.  My plan all along dear one was to wear the yoke with you.

My shoulders are both big and broad, my strength it never wanes.  As I wear the yoke with you, your strength will grow and gain.

As you seek me every day my priorities you will see.  As you tap into my strength, you’ll walk in victory.

I’ve place you here in the world for such a time as this.  Look at your priorities. What’s atop your list?

Are the things you hold up high the ones that should be there?  Or do you let the world dictate upon which things you care?

I don’t see life the way you do, I see the grand design.  And if you seek to know my heart, our priorities will align.

I’ll show you the things I care about, where your energies should be placed. I’ll lead and guide you through each day; I’ll give you the grace. 

You may have to let go of things that you hold as dear, but if you’ll still your heart and mind, I’ll whisper in your ear. 

My peace I’ll give as you work to learn a different way.  I’ll hold your hand and guide you through each and every day. 

Keep your focus on the things above, not the things below.  And I will give you the strength you need to let the low things go.

I want your life to be spent on eternal things, like time down on your knees in prayer for presidents and kings. 

Sharing the truths of my Word with a soul who’s lost; laying down your life dear child, no matter what the cost.

Spending time with the ones you love, your family and friends.  All these things will matter most when life comes to an end.

How clean your house, how big your purse will not mean a thing, when you bow before my throne and worship me as King.

Keep your heart tuned to my voice and I will guide your way.  Pay close attention and I will show you how to use your day.