“My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right. Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.” – Proverbs 23:15-18
It’s easy to get wrapped up in what’s going on in our lives. Primarily this is because of the intimate way in which what happens in our lives effects our happiness, our attitude and our ability to make of life what we desire. We get caught up in the trials and travails of today, and spend countless moments searching for how we might change them. We focus on the here and now to the neglect of the ever after.
This tendency to be consumed with the dailyness of our lives is easily understood and quite commonplace. However, the preponderance of its existence doesn’t mean that it is beneficial phenomenon. As the above Proverb illustrates, when we focus on today, the Christian will often come up short. We will look at what we’ve obtained and compare it to our neighbors and be found wanting. We will see the immediate delights of sin, and ignore the deadly consequences When in our foolishness we focus on the attainments of today, we neglect to secure the wisdom that teaches the permanence of eternity.
To combat this, we need to ask God to expand our view. Instead of seeing what we’re missing, the Christian needs to look to all that they’ve received. We need to look beyond today to the hope of tomorrow. And unlike what can be acquired now, this is a hope that can be sustained. And when our Hope is clearly in view, we find peace, no matter what the day brings.
