Waste Of Time

Given March 16, 2009

We do a lot of things to prepare for the future.  Our whole education system is in place from Pre-kindergarten through college and graduate school in order that people can prepare for the future.  And really, it’s so we can make money and provide for our families.  A secondary benefit of our preparation is to help society; to provide services that help others.  These things are important.  But think about the time we spend on advancing knowledge compared to the time we spend on advancing our spiritual self.  “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Colossians 3:2.

Think about a guy who spends a lot of time building his muscles.  He goes to the gym several times a week, follows a detailed regime, exerting much energy to achieve his goal of the perfect body.  He can flex his muscles to the admiration of everyone but he must maintain what he has achieved by continual work.  What people see is fantastic but what about the inside?  The body will age and deterioriate to the point of death.  “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18.  It is much more important to concentrate on building up our spiritual muscles which will serve us for eternity.

Based on the first two scenarios, picture this: the person who spent all that time on education, training, and moving up the financial ladder who has letters after their name, fame, and money stands facing eternity at the judgement.  Their degrees mean nothing, they are not famous, and have no money.  All they did to achieve those things was for naught!  Their spiritual life is bankrupt!

The muscle guy who spent countless hours building up his body now stands at the judgement listening for the cheers.  There are none.  He looks in the mirror to admire himself and all he sees is his spirit; a scrawny, sickly thing that is the result of years of neglect.  What seems important now?  How could these people have better spent their time?  “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36.

I encourage everyone to evaluate how much time you are spending on exercising and building up your spirit compared to these other things that will pass like a “vapor”, James 4:14.

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