good and better, better and best…

everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. 1 corinthians 10.23 (niv)

in your life, most of you, being CHRISTians, your choice is not between good and evil (like “am i going to have a quiet time or murder my mother in law?”)  you don't think in those terms.  the question is going to be between good and better and better and best.  the apostle paul says, everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial.  

some things aren’t necessarily wrong; they’re just not necessary.  you don’t have time for everything.  you’d better figure out what’s the two things or three things you’ve got to get done this year.  what’s really important? 

the way you do that is ask yourself, “what's going to last?”  a lot of things just aren’t going to last.  They’re urgent but they’re not important.  big difference.

i’ve been in a lot of funerals as a pastor.  i’ve been at the bedside of a lot of dying people.  in all the people i’ve talked to that are dying in moments, i’ve never heard one man or woman say, “as i look back over my life, i wish i’d spent more time at the office.”  i’ve never heard that.  i have heard people say, “i wish i’d spent more time with my family.  i wish i’d gotten to know GOD better.  i wish i’d grown in some of the character and values i really believe are important.  but i didn’t.” 

clarify what’s important.

just a thought from the front porch…