Senior Living - February 1

How to emphasize the eternal in your life

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. - Philippians 3:8

Professional golfer Tommy Bolt was playing in Los Angeles and had a caddy with a reputation of constant chatter. Before they teed off, Bolt told him, “Don’t say a word to me. And if I ask you something, just answer yes or no.”

During the round, Bolt found the ball next to a tree, where he had to hit under a branch, over a lake and onto the green. He got down on his knees and looked through the trees and sized up the shot. “What do you think?” he asked the caddy. “Five iron?” “No,” the caddy said.

“What do you mean, not a five iron?” Bolt snorted. “Watch this shot.”

The caddy rolled his eyes. “Nooo, Mr. Bolt.”

But Bolt hit it and the ball stopped about two feet from the hole. He turned to his caddy, handed him the five-iron and said, “Now what do you think about that? You can talk now.”

“Mr. Bolt,” the caddy said, “that wasn’t your ball.”

Quite often in life, it’s easy to expend time and energy on things that are ultimately meaningless. Just like Tommy Bolt hit the wrong ball, many people also put an enormous amount of effort into shots that don’t count for anything when life is over.

When it comes to how you spend your time, do things that count. Spend your energy on things that bring glory to God—growing in His Word, fellowshipping with other believers, and loving those that don’t know Him.

Prayer Challenge

Pray and ask God to show you when you are putting too much time and energy into things that have no eternal significance.

Questions for Thought

What are the temporal things in your life today on which you’d admit you’ve placed too much emphasis?

What are the things of eternal significance that you can put more time and energy into today?

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