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People in the world think a lot of things are
important. But if we aren't faithful children
of God when we die, none of them matter. Like
Solomon says, "'Vanity of vanities', says the
Preacher, 'Vanity of vanities! All is vanity'"
(Ec. 1:2).
School
People in the world think getting a good education
is important, but the best education in the world
is a waste of time if we spend eternity in hell.
- "For since in the wisdom of God the world
through its wisdom did not come to know God,
God was well-pleased through the foolishness
of the message preached to save those who believe"
(1 Cor. 1:18).
When we've been in eternity millions of years,
whether in heaven or hell, school won't matter.
School is something that helps us while living
on earth, and makes no difference when we die.
It doesn't matter if we got an "A" or a "B"
or whether we passed or failed.
After we die, school won't matter. All that
matters is whether we are faithful children of
God.
Work
People in the world also think it's important
to have a certain kind of job, preferably one
that other people esteem.
It's nice to have a profession that's respected,
and a job by which we make a difference in the
world.
But after we die, it doesn't matter. We won't
go to heaven based on the job we worked, and I
don't imagine anyone will even care.
In eternity, a person who was a CEO and a person
who was the lowliest of employees are equal.
All that matters is whether we are faithful
children of God.
Family
People in the world think it's important to come
from the right family, and raise children who
meet certain worldly standards.
If our kids do well in school, score high on
certain tests, go to prestigious schools, and
run around with other popular kids, we're thought
to be successful as parents.
But none of that really matters.
We aren't going to get into heaven based on
who our parents were, or what our kids scored
on a test.
All that matters is that we're obeying God,
and have a home in heaven.
Money and Possessions
Most things in the world come back to money and
possessions. But ironically, from a worldly point
of view, God has chosen the poor of this world
to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom (Jas.
2:25).
Why do we go to school or work in a certain
profession? It's often because of money, and the
possessions we can provide for ourselves with
money.
The apostle Paul says, "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).
The key difference between faithful Christians
and people of the world is that we love God, rather
than money and possessions. We are content with
whatever God blesses us with, whether wealth or
poverty.
- "'Therefore I say to you, do not worry
about your life, what you will eat or what
you will drink; nor about your body, what you
will put on. Is not life more than food and
the body more than clothing?'" . . . "'But seek
first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you'"
(Matt. 6:25, 33).
- "Not that I speak in regard to need, for
I have learned in whatever state I am, to
be content: I know how to be abased, and
I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all
things I have learned both to be full and to
be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens
me" (Phil. 4:11-13).
Money and possessions don't matter. We can neither
buy our way into heaven, nor give God anything
to let us in. All that matters is obeying God.
- "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone
wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself,
and take up his cross and follow Me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose
it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will
find it. For what will it profit a man if
he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?
Or what will a man give in exchange for his
soul'" (Matt. 16:24-26)?
Conclusion
People in the world think a lot of things are
important. But if we aren't faithful children
of God when we die, none of them matter.
"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is:
fear God and keep His commandments, because this
applies to every person. For God will bring every
act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether
it is good or evil" (Ec. 12:13-14).
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