The Meaning of Life

“Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.”—Proverbs 11:4 NASB

The Bible reminds us of basic facts. Simply, all of us alike face this fate. We all have opportunities to develop these gifts, talents, and resources. In the process, we all have choices.

We tend to focus on our immediate needs and circumstances. This leads to the process of fostering short-term pleasures and eliminating short-term problems.

The idea of developing a longer-term perspective on life is difficult, particularly when we are so dominated by our immediate needs and opportunities. The practical approach seems to be a short-term focus, but in reality, it is the longer-term perspective that is not only more practical but also more beneficial. This is the perspective that deals with issues over the longer term of our lives and leads to benefits that we will enjoy more often and deals with, and even eliminates, longer-term problems.

The Bible encourages us to approach life as a long-term investment. We may think that short-term thinking solves the most problems and benefits us the most. But the problem with this kind of thinking is that we inevitably face a series of short-term problems. Having addressed them once, we inevitably will face them—or other similar issues—again very soon.

Ask God to help you focus on pleasing Him. Invest the resources and opportunities He has given you. Ask God to give you His perspective on life. We have choices. Gain His perspective on how you should live and the choices you should make.

Reflection Question: How can you remember to keep a long-term perspective on life?