What Matters In God’s Eyes
The little things that matter here on earth are the big things that matter to God.
Have you ever thought about that? I heard a reference to that thought this week and wondered if I believe that? If I view life like that?
What are the big things that God cares about? This is a deep question and one that raises many questions. We all have our opinions about what God truly cares about. The unfortunate thing is that we mere humans end up ranking what WE think is on God’s Top 10 List.
We have to look no further than the Bible to see what God truly cares about. I could sit here and make a list of all the things that God desires from us and what we should focus our time and attention on. Yet no matter how long or short of a list I make, it will be incomplete. So here’s a humbled attempt at just listing a few:
Galatians 5:22-23 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly[a] with your God.
Again, by ALL MEANS, this is not an exhaustive list. These are just some verses that I personally find helpful in reminding myself of the big things that matter to God, while they may be little things here on earth. Things on earth that matter are the clothes you wear, how much is in your bank account, the toys you own, what kind of car you drive, your rank at your job, other’s opinions, and so forth. All of these things are fleeting. All of these things will soon pass away. All (every single one of them) does not matter to God. It doesn’t matter how much you own – it is what you do with those things that matters.
It comes down to applying those verses above, to the earthly things we own, that end up mattering for a lifetime. It is a matter of the heart. All those verses require an action or response – an action or response of the heart. If our hearts are only filled with the fleeting things of this earth, that is how we are going to react and respond. But if the Bible is first in our hearts, then out of the overflow of our hearts, we will serve.
Love God. Love people.
It’s that simple. Yet we continue to complicate the process by allowing our minds AND hearts to think that the things of this earth matter MORE than the things of heaven – the godly characteristics that God calls us to.
What do you hold onto too tightly on this earth? What are you wishing you had, but don’t? Do those verses above challenge you to redirect your thinking? I know personally I am always challenged deeply by them. So quickly I can lose sight of God’s priorities in my life and I try to set up my own. Take caution Kristin, for the things that matter on this earth, are the little things that matter in Heaven.
