MISPLACED VALUES

There has been much in the news for the last several weeks about the current economic crisis. People are losing their jobs, their investments and pensions, and their homes. Some are losing their hope. I think part of the problem is we have misplaced values. We need to realize there are some things that are worth much more than other things. We need to find out what the more valuable things are and place our focus on these things. I am not suggesting that we totally ignore the financial situation and bury our heads in the sand, but we do need to get our priorities straight. Because sometimes the things that are really worth the least are more precious in the hearts of men.

In Isaiah 5:20, we have this reading: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” It is tragic when men confuse themselves as to what is good and what is bad. The prophet said they call evil good; and they call good evil. They exalted the worthless and degrading; and belittled things were good. If this seems strange, only recall that this is the common course of mankind. For instance, money and material goods have become the great goal of many lives; while virtue and spirituality are forgotten. Our nation is more concerned with the economy than Jesus Christ and His treasures.

Jesus told a parable about a man who prepared a great feast and invited many. He sent his servant to bid them saying, “Come, for all things are now ready.” “But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’19 “And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’20 “Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come” (Luke 14:18-20). These men had a great opportunity; but they were more interested in other things. We have many opportunities to enjoy the blessings of Christ and His kingdom, but often pass them by in the pursuit of the temporal and unimportant. It is true that life requires attention to business, home, and so on; but such things should be secondary.

What are we talking about? We are talking about a mother that is anxious for her daughter to be a social success; but is not concerned about her spiritual success. We are talking about a father that spends thousands of dollars to get his son through college, but never took him to Sunday school. We are talking about the way men and women will devote themselves to business, to a profession, to home, and a host of other things; but who give the service of God and the salvation of their own soul only passing attention.

When your life and mine draws to a close, only one thing will really matter. All the rest will mean nothing. Only what is done for Christ will make any difference.
--Lamar