Leo Tolstoy has written many stories including: How much land does a man need? Pahom was offered a stretch of land that he can walk marking with his spade from sunrise to sunset of the day. He was excited and walked a very long distance and looked back. He had to run to hold his fortune. He reaches the point, exhausted and falls dead. He was buried in a grave only six feet long. Even today, people are in deadly pursuit and lose their life.
A good believer who was holding a high position in the government was diligent for the Lord. His annual holidays were dedicated to holding summer leadership camps for young people. He equipped himself by doing online theological courses. However, he was a victim of office politics. His promotion was denied. Sadly, he took it as a prestige issue. Resolved to get his promotion he tried all sources, official channels, recommendations, political and legal interventions. It consumed all his time and energy. He withdrew from his involvement in the church. Gradually he lost his daily spiritual routine. For about one and a half years he was possessed with one sole purpose to get his legitimate promotion. He got a promotion, but within a week he became a victim of Covid 19 and died. Like Pahom in the story, he got what he desired but could not enjoy it.
Lord Jesus Christ taught: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) Pursuing worldly wealth, security that comes with it, prestige it offers, comforts that it provides could be intoxicating. However, the riches are fleeting so is our life. (Proverbs 23:5) “For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (II Kings 4:18) God has to open our eyes to see that they are eternal to understand our life purpose.
Are my spiritual eyes open to see things of eternal value?