Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us this Sunday! In-Person 9:00am & 10:45am, Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

Join us at the next Sunday worship service:
In-Person
9:00am & 10:45am,
Online 9:00am, 10:45am & 5:00pm

 What Do You Value?

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” – Matthew 6:19-21

For the next few moments, I want you to imagine you are are sitting in a corporate meeting room. Your manager walks in, sits down, and places a large folder directly in front of you. She greets you and explains that she has an important project for you. She goes on to explain that if this project goes well, it will lead to bigger and better things for you in the company. She then walks over, sits next to you and looks you in the eye. You are getting a little uneasy. After a pause, she reveals to you that your next big project is you. She wants you to transform your life to the guidelines set in Romans 12: 1-2, Matthew 6:19-21 and Luke 12:15. She pauses again and asks, “What is important to you? What do you really want to gain or accomplish in life? What do you think would really make you happy? What motivates you? What do you value most?

That would be some project. It is a project that most Christians have taken on in one time or another. If we can look at this hypothetical project through the lens of the future, try to think what your life is going to be like in ten years time, twenty years, and thirty years. Look at it from the perspective of eternity, and ask this question, “what is going to last?  What’s going to last ten years from now? Twenty years from now? For eternity? How much of what I’m doing right now is going to matter in 100 years?” The things that don’t matter, maybe I shouldn’t spend so much time on them. Maybe I shouldn’t spend any time on them. If you do that, the project, will you have a much greater chance of success. 1 John 2:17 says, “And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.” What does John mean by “world”? He does not mean the physical world or the world of humanity; he means the values and priorities of a world hostile to God.

C. S. Lewis appropriately wrote, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.” He continued, “It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this one. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth thrown in: aim at earth and you will get neither.”

Where is your focus? Where is your aim? As Hebrews 13:14 states, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”

Discussion Questions:

  1. Does your value system reflect that transformation that you are seeking? What things do you value the most in this season of your life?
  2. How do we focus on the future rather than the present?
  3. What and how is God calling you to transform in this season of your life?

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