Daily Scripture Blog

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things
shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Do you ever struggle with priorities? Do you let the things in life that really aren’t very important crowd out the things in life that really are very important?

It is interesting to me that when people are on their death bed, they never talk about how they wished they had worked harder, made more sales calls, closed more business deals, climbed higher on the ladder of success. No. What they talk about is relationships. They wish they had lived more for the Lord. they wished they had spent more time with their family and friends.

A SUCCESS OR A FAILURE?

Years ago, I ran across this true story of a “successful” father who lost sight of what was really important.

A young man was to be sentenced to the penitentiary. The judge had known him from childhood, for he was well acquainted with his father–a famous legal scholar and the author of an exhaustive study entitled, “The Law of Trusts.” “Do you remember your father?” asked the magistrate. “I remember him well, your honor,” came the reply. Then trying to probe the offender’s conscience, the judge said, “As you are about to be sentenced and as you think of your wonderful dad, what do you remember most clearly about him?” There was a pause. Then the judge received an answer he had not expected. “I remember when I went to him for advice. He looked up at me from the book he was writing and said, ‘Run along, boy; I’m busy!’ When I went to him for companionship, he turned me away, saying, ‘Run along, son; this book must be finished!’ Your honor, you remember him as a great lawyer. I remember him as a lost friend.” The magistrate muttered to himself, “Alas! Finished the book, but lost the boy!”

REWRITING YOUR STORY

Be totally honest: are you falling into the same trap of that “successful” lawyer dad? Are you trading the eternal things, the things that really matter, for the temporal things that are destined for the ash heap? The time is now to take a sober inventory of the direction of your life. What do you see? Does the picture need some work?

It is not too late to turn things around! Start first by seeking the Lord and His will for your life. Then focus you thoughts and attention on family and friends. Life is more than just deadlines, “to do” lists, work, work and more work. Life is meant to be savored and enjoyed. God wants to use your life today to bless others, starting with your own family. Take time for God, time for worship, prayer, and Bible study. and time for those special people He has put into your life. May it never be metaphorically said of you that you “finished the book but lost the boy.”

by Jeff Schreve

When doubts filled my mind,
your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

Psalm 94:19 (New Living Translation)

When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Psalm 94:19 (New International Version)

When I was upset and beside myself,
you calmed me down and cheered me up.

Psalm 94:19 (The Message)

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Psalm 46:1-2 (New Living Translation)

God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.

Psalm 46:1-2 (New International Version)

God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in seastorm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.

Psalm 46:1-2 (The Message)

Form your purpose by asking for counsel,
then carry it out using all the help you can get.

Proverbs 20:18 (The Message)

Make plans by seeking advice;
if you wage war, obtain guidance.

Proverbs 20:18 (New International Version)

Plans succeed through good counsel;
don’t go to war without wise advice.

Proverbs 20:18 (New Living Translation)

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

1 John 3:17 (New Living Translation)

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?

1 John 3:17 (New International Version)

If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear.

1 John 3:17 (The Message)