Things that Matter… Things that Don't
By J.B. Hixson, Ph.D.
04/11/2019
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (Col 3:2)
Lately I have been thinking about the importance of perspective. In many ways, our contentment or pleasure in life comes down to our perspective. If we focus our thoughts and attention on the trials of life—all that is negative, disappointing, frustrating, hurtful, difficult, stressful—we are likely to experience only minimal joy as these negative aspects of life eclipse what is really important. But on the other hand if we focus our thoughts and attention on things that really matter—things of eternal value—we are less likely to let the troubles of life consume us.
It is all about perspective. To a woman, a pearl is a jewel that can be worn on their finger, neck, or ear. To a chemist, a pearl is a mixture of aragonite and calcite. To a poet, it is a “teardrop of the sea.” To a biologist, it is simply a secretion inside the shells of certain mollusks. But to a believer, a pearl is a marvel of God’s creation.
What do you see when you look at life all around you? The Apostle Paul reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven,” not on earth (Phil 3:20), and thus we should “set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:2). All that is in the world, both good and bad, is temporary; it will pass away some day. It is not worthy of our obsessive attention. Only when we climb to the heights of heaven in our mind’s eye, and view life through the lens of eternity, can we begin to prioritize the stuff life is made of and truly appreciate those things that matter.
Tom Landry was one of the greatest football coaches of all-time. He was known not only for his football expertise, but his godly character as well. On one occasion, when asked why he had been so successful, Tom Landry responded to a crowd of more than two thousand students at Baylor University, “In 1958, I did something everyone who has been successful must do, I determined my priorities for my life—God, family, and then football.” (Cited in Dallas Morning News, March 2, 1978) In other words, Landry “set his mind on things above” first.
What about you? What matters most in your life? Are you able to peel away the distractions of life and get to the heart of the matter? At the Milan Cathedral in northern Italy there are three inscriptions over three respective doorways. Over the right-hand door there is this motto: “All that pleases is but for a moment.” Over the left-hand door the inscription reads: “All that troubles is but for a moment.” But over the central door there is an important reminder: “Nothing is important save that which is eternal.”
Let me encourage you to get into the Word of God daily where you will discover a timeless treasure trove of things that matter.
04/11/2019
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (Col 3:2)
Lately I have been thinking about the importance of perspective. In many ways, our contentment or pleasure in life comes down to our perspective. If we focus our thoughts and attention on the trials of life—all that is negative, disappointing, frustrating, hurtful, difficult, stressful—we are likely to experience only minimal joy as these negative aspects of life eclipse what is really important. But on the other hand if we focus our thoughts and attention on things that really matter—things of eternal value—we are less likely to let the troubles of life consume us.
It is all about perspective. To a woman, a pearl is a jewel that can be worn on their finger, neck, or ear. To a chemist, a pearl is a mixture of aragonite and calcite. To a poet, it is a “teardrop of the sea.” To a biologist, it is simply a secretion inside the shells of certain mollusks. But to a believer, a pearl is a marvel of God’s creation.
What do you see when you look at life all around you? The Apostle Paul reminds us that “our citizenship is in heaven,” not on earth (Phil 3:20), and thus we should “set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:2). All that is in the world, both good and bad, is temporary; it will pass away some day. It is not worthy of our obsessive attention. Only when we climb to the heights of heaven in our mind’s eye, and view life through the lens of eternity, can we begin to prioritize the stuff life is made of and truly appreciate those things that matter.
Tom Landry was one of the greatest football coaches of all-time. He was known not only for his football expertise, but his godly character as well. On one occasion, when asked why he had been so successful, Tom Landry responded to a crowd of more than two thousand students at Baylor University, “In 1958, I did something everyone who has been successful must do, I determined my priorities for my life—God, family, and then football.” (Cited in Dallas Morning News, March 2, 1978) In other words, Landry “set his mind on things above” first.
What about you? What matters most in your life? Are you able to peel away the distractions of life and get to the heart of the matter? At the Milan Cathedral in northern Italy there are three inscriptions over three respective doorways. Over the right-hand door there is this motto: “All that pleases is but for a moment.” Over the left-hand door the inscription reads: “All that troubles is but for a moment.” But over the central door there is an important reminder: “Nothing is important save that which is eternal.”
Let me encourage you to get into the Word of God daily where you will discover a timeless treasure trove of things that matter.
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1 Comment
Wow… this really made me pause and reflect. In a world that constantly tells us to chase after more—more stuff, more status, more recognition—it’s refreshing (and honestly, a bit sobering) to read something that reminds us what actually matters in the long run. The way this article broke down the difference between eternal values and temporary distractions really hit me. I especially appreciated the part about how even good things can become distractions if they pull us away from God’s purpose. That’s such a subtle but powerful truth. We can get so caught up in careers, hobbies, even ministry work sometimes, that we forget to check where our heart is. Also, the reminder about not placing too much weight on opinions, popularity, or politics—yes. In today’s climate, that message needs to be on repeat. It’s so easy to let those things cloud our view of what really matters: faith, grace, truth, and loving people well.