Do you have Short or Long Term Priorities?

© 2017 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

Most of us set our priorities based on what we think we know about our future. Often, our priorities focus on preparing for long life and pleasant golden years. Our efforts become directed at maintaining a pleasant standard of living for as long as we can. Thoughts about eternity are displaced by present urgencies.

I once asked a bank teller, “How are you today?” She responded that she was looking forward to the weekend. I said, “Suppose this weekend turns out to be the weekend you die. Would you still look forward to it?” She looked at me with a shocked and troubled expression.

Many folks die while making plans for many years to come. Nothing exempts you or me from this possibility.

One day Jesus described such a man to His disciples.

“And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:15-20).

Each of us approaches a moment when we will pass from this life into our eternal destiny. Do you have heavy concerns about this? Jesus said,

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

This invitation is based on His suffering of death and rising again for the sins of His people. However, there’s an urgency about this invitation.

“…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation …” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

If you were to suddenly discover that tonight is your appointed time to die, would your priorities change?

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