Proper Perspective

”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.”

2 Corinthians 4:18

              The luster of a new car is lost after a while.  The same holds true for a new house or any inanimate object.  Why is that?  They are just things.  Yes, things that we work hard to attain and some things that we need to live; however, there is grave danger in believing those “things” make us who we are or add to our spiritual wellbeing. 

              I love to look at new cars, new houses, the latest technological gadget, but I keep in mind that they will never bring me the spiritual satisfaction that only God can.  There is a feeling of accomplishment and pride that comes when I attain something new mixed with the reality that it will serve a purpose for a season and eventually succumb to moths or rust (Matthew 6:19).

              So, are things bad?  No, God provides us with things to enjoy and live this earthly life.  He wants us to be blessed, but blessed with balance.  Lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and the pride of life are the three categories of sin that we are all susceptible to.  If the proper perspective in regards to things is not applied we will fall prey to one of if not all those categories.  I spend a lot of time in the gym working out staying in shape.  Our body is a temple for the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) after all so we are required to take care of it.  Yet in the grand scheme of things our body is a thing also.  A wonderfully designed and made thing, but it gets old, sick, and eventually dies. 

              Proper perspective is the remedy to keep our lives balanced, but proper perspective is not a trait that we all have.  When the purpose for life is not realized proper perspective is nothing but a pipe dream.  We are here for God’s glory (1 Corinthians 10:31) and our lives should reflect that.  This includes putting into proper perspective the things we have or goals we have achieved within the grand scheme of God getting the glory. 

              No man or woman will ever take things with them when they die (Mark 8:36), but what was done for God with those things prior to death will last.  I am often reminded of this because I often think about dying, but not in a morbid sense.  Ecclesiastes 7:4 (NLT) reads, “A wise person thinks a lot about death,  while a fool thinks only about have a good time.”  I challenge you to ponder that for a moment.  If all a person thinks about is “having a good time” the bible says they are a fool.  I’m sure you are familiar with abbreviated expression YOLO which means “You Only Live Once”.  It’s mainly utilized when people are going to do something they have never done before and it’s an “adventure” or it holds some kind of risk.  The expression is very true from a worldly physical view; however, the actual truth of the matter is that we all live forever and we all have one opportunity in the life we currently live to receive eternal life with God or apart from Him.  So, if we only live once on this physical earth with the bodies we now possess, let’s live for God and make the most of the time, gifts, talents, and things He has bestowed upon us for His glory.