What Is Important To You?

Matthew 24:35 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (NKJV)

If someone gave you three minutes to get out of your house before it was to blow up, burn down, or otherwise disappear forever — what would you take with you? Never mind about your family, pets, plants, or anything else alive and/or breathing; let us assume for the moment that they would be fine. This whole exercise is about things.

What things would you grab and run with for the door? For one, it seems that women on the average would leap for their purses. That makes sense, since our whole world, as it were, is micro-contained in that little (or big) container. So that's fine. But what else? Pictures? Money? Stocks? How about your Bible? Would you know where to find it in three minutes? Ah, so that may be another situation entirely.

Let's say that you've grabbed your purse or wallet and your Bible — or not. As a Christian, that's about all I would probably take. As a sentimental woman, I would also like to take my 54-year-old teddy bear. But then there's all of my little bear's "extended family" — so where would I stop? Grab the bunny, but leave behind the floppy-eared dog? Better that I just stick with my purse and Bible!

Since the rest of the household is just stuff, and we can walk away from it all, why do we place so much importance on it now? It's still just stuff. Stuff and things and trinkets and gewgaws and widgets and whatever else: all just stuff, all things of the earth.

Wouldn't it be better to concentrate our time and energy — and resources — where they matter? And where they will matter for all eternity?

Prayer: Lord, help us to keep our eyes focused on You and not on the things of this world. Amen.