Most people we know have a dream house. A place that they would love to have for their family. The place they would want to settle in for life. It may be a classic, or it could be ultra modern. Either way, it represents our aspirations, and its realization is usually this world’s measurement of our success.
As followers of Jesus, we are not being hindered from aspiring to have a good life. We are not even being dissuaded from enjoying the fruits of our labor. After all, working hard and praying harder help a lot in achieving material success.
“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God’s gift to man.” Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
But when we decide to live a life of worship, we must be able to distinguish the good from the best. Of course, it is good to have our dream house, but if the hard work it requires is at the expense of meaningful memories with loved ones, then it might just not be worth all the effort. As Christians, we are called to value the unseen, and such includes faith in God, inner peace, and boundless joy shared with loved ones.
When we know what we should truly value, we will no longer be enslaved to the endless pursuit of wealth. We will no longer be shackled into our goals of building worldly mansions, that in time will be empty because we failed to share love with those who really matter in life. When we are free from the rat race of life, we will be able to truly open our hearts to the abundant life Jesus Christ offers, and lack nothing.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
And while the abundant life that the Lord offers is not quantifiable in terms of monetary value, its worth is far greater than anything the world’s richest men can ever buy.
When we have Christ in our hearts, we will have contentment. We will lack nothing because we already have everything that matters — Jesus and the eternal life that He offers. We will no longer pour our earthly time accumulating wealth to give our children and family, because we know that our real riches is the time we have in our hands, and that is what we share with them. It is the time to happily spent creating meaningful memories, and time worshipping the Lord.
Such things no one can take away from us nor from our loved ones because these things have been ordained for us by the Lord.
“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11
And so, as we pour our lives over endeavors that are geared towards amassing fortune, may we be given the grace to stop and reflect on what truly matters. May we be able to hear the Lord knocking on the doors of our hearts, wanting to give us what truly matters, and what will give our hearts peace.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20
When we allow Him to enter our lives, and put Him in its front and center, we will experience the joy of being right with Him, the confidence of being guided by Him, and the tranquility that withstands the inevitable storms of life. We will be unshakeable, because we know in our hearts who is in control, who has long planned everything that is and will happen to us, and who will never withhold good things for us.
‘Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Ecclesiastes 3:9-15 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Are you pursuing things that in the end will not truly matter to you and your loved ones?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, please give me the grace to distinguish the good from the best. Allow me to see the real value of the abundant life that you offer, so that I could center my life around it. I want to truly live a life of worship. Amen.
