Do you have the proper priorities?

The seventh way to complete the sentence, “If you want God’s best…,” is be more concerned with the eternal than with the temporal.

There is a passage of Scripture in which the eternal and the temporal are set side by side and compared.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NKJV)

Paul says there are two categories of things: the eternal and the temporary. The temporary things are the things we can see, the things of this world that we contact with our senses. But the eternal things are unseen. They belong to the invisible, eternal world. He brings out a tremendously important principle: our light affliction works for us an eternal weight of glory while we are looking, not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen.

Most of us are going to go through affliction; we must face that fact. Sooner or later in life, we are going to face trouble, hardship, or difficulty, which will do for us something of eternal value on one basic condition: that we continue looking at the things that are not seen. But, if we take our eyes off the eternal things and begin to look only at the temporary things, at the things of this world that we contact with our natural senses, then our affliction is no longer working for us that eternal glory that it is God’s purpose for us to have.

When we come into trouble or affliction, it is very important that we learn to respond in the right way. We must not be distracted from the eternal by problems and troubles, but we must keep our eyes steadfastly fixed on the eternal and unseen.

(If you want to know a little more about this, the booklet ‘Life’s bitter pool’ will be a great blessing for you!)