A fundamental concern for every person is figuring out how to make the most of their lives. After all, we only get one shot. No matter the approach to solve this puzzle, one thing is certain – it is an extremely complex endeavor, made up of a multitude of decisions.
Most people seek to identify what the best decisions are, which ones carry more weight than others. Figuring out the most rewarding formula to a well lived life requires a priority system. This means not only identifying what is most important to you, but also coming up with the plan of how to distribute the limited resources at your disposal to make sure that the items at the top of your list are achieved first, and only then investing in less important objectives. Inevitably, this will mean discarding activities that are a bad investment for your time.
A major impact upon the way you seek to classify your priorities is how you perceive life. If you embrace a humanist mindset, in which life is nothing but random molecules that have come together over a long evolutionary process, you will seek to drink up all the pleasure possible in the few decades that you have before you cease to exist. If you believe in God, however, you understand that life is far more than that. You learn from God’s Word, that life is more than food and clothing, that there is an eternity once the physical life ends.
As one who believes in God as the creator, and that the soul continues to live into eternity, my priority is defined by the desire to spend that never-ending existence in the presence of God. While, as most people, I must admit a significant level of frustration that stems from failure to remain focused all the time on priorities that drive to such a destination, I seek, as best I can, to eliminate from my goals in life all those things that stand in the way.
Jesus says that the road that leads to life is narrow, which means there is not much room for all kinds of activities. The one who is on such a path has already understood this reality the moment he/she started the journey, for this road starts by passing through a narrow gate.
It is narrow because many things have no place on such a journey. Even if somehow one manages to pick up things after going through such a gate, he does so to his own misery, inevitably making his travel more difficult. In one of the most fascinating works of fiction, the Pilgrims Progress, John Bunyan describes the main character, Christian, straying away from the narrow way only to suffer terribly as a result. (I strongly recommend this book by the way. You can get the Kindle version here for free).
This straying away is prompted by desires of the flesh, often having to do with money in some form, which is why the apostle Paul warns Timothy, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Tim 6:10).
Giving in the temptation to cross over the wall to a road that seems to be easier and more rewarding means to fall victim to the devil’s deception. His goal is to distract from what is important and instead have people wasting time in foolish enterprises. Eventually, however, this will bring misery in the life of the believer.
A fish finds a lure irresistible and gives chase only to be shocked by the painful sting of the hook, which now has it captive. As soon as the fisherman draws it in, the fish is killed.
In Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian crossed over the wall, naively thinking that he will continue to walk in the same direction by keeping eye contact with the wall. But it was not long before he got distracted, and lost sight of the wall. And when that happened, he did not know how to get back.
This is the tragic reality of many Christians today. Lured by the attractive promises of the wide way, they are pierced with many sorrows. Despite the promise of ease and comfort, the broad road eventually is harder to travel, and ultimately leads to destruction.
It is not easy to be on the narrow road either, but for different reasons. While the two ways share to some degree this aspect of hardship, they produce different results and have very different destinations. To stay on the narrow road, even at the expense of less pleasure experienced in the physical life, is crucial. The reward at the end far exceeds any momentarily pleasures you can have on the earth.
This is why I write this post. However, I need to point out that I cannot spell out for you how to build a priority system. You will have to do that. Every person’s circumstances are different. Instead, my hope is to persuade you that it is vital to have your priorities right and that they should be focused on God and eternity.
I want to encourage you to stay on the narrow path, to identify what are the priorities that will enable you to walk victoriously on it, and to seek God’s help constantly to give you the discipline and strength to remain focused, to recognize dangerous distractions – meant to lead you astray and waste your time – and to ignore them. Stay committed to priorities that take you in the right direction, and enable you to gather treasures in heaven, which you will enjoy for all eternity with your Creator.