Keep the right priorities and pursue the eternal things!

Moses is an example of a man who kept his priorities right. In Hebrews, we find this description of him:

“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” (Hebrews 11:24–27 NKJV)

Notice the key clause, “he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.” That is, he saw the eternal God, the eternal realm, and the eternal realities. How did Moses see them? Not with his senses, but by faith. Because he contacted the unseen eternal realities by faith, he was not moved away from his calling, and he did not lose his sense of values. He did not regard the riches of Egypt as greater than the eternal riches of God. He was willing to forego the riches of Egypt in order to attain to the eternal riches of God. His priorities were right, because by faith he kept his eyes on the unseen eternal realities.

In this connection, I want to give you a warning that is particularly important for people in our culture and civilization: Do not pursue riches. Do not make wealth your goal. Paul has something very sad and very solemn to say to Christians who pursue riches:

“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:9–11)

Do not pursue riches. Pursue the eternal realities, the eternal riches. If you pursue the temporal riches, if you set your eyes on them and make them your goal, you are going to be sorry. You are going to pierce yourself through with many griefs. You are going to fall into a trap and into “many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Hear those words, and if your heart is set to pursue riches, turn back today.

I thank God that there is an alternative to pursuing riches. We can seek the kingdom of God and let God add to us what we need, in abundance, because God is not stingy, but generous. Once He sees that our motives are right, He can release His generosity toward us. Jesus says:

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness [the eternal things], and all these things [the temporal things] shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31–33 NKJV)

There is a great difference between pursuing the temporal, and pursuing the eternal and letting God add the temporal to you. You must have your priorities right.