WHAT DOES A 69 YEAR OLD HAVE TO SAY TO A 27 YEAR OLD
Check Your Priority
" What does a man gain for all his toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun. All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 2: 22,23
Happy is the man who finds work and work that he enjoys. When God created the world, He created man with a desire to work and blessed him with contentment and joy in his work. His work did not conflict with other areas of his life, everything was in perfect balance. As a result of sin coming into the world, the work place now became a place of toil and conflict. The more the world grew, the more we became confused and disillusioned in where work belonged in our priorities. What God had intended to be just one component to give us joy and satisfaction, we have used to the point of robbing us of God's other priorities for our life.
Be on guard that you do not let your work become the main thing in your life. Men can build their self image largely on what kind of work they do and how well they do it. The more we succeed in our work, the happier we think we will be. God requires that whatever we do, we must do it well. He has given each of us certain abilities and desires pertaining to our work and He requires that we be good stewards of our time and talents in that work. " A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work." Ecclesiastes 2: 24. Happy is the man who can find his calling in work and keep it in balance.
The problem occurs when our work begins to take control of our life. It becomes the means by which we can gain all the stuff we think will make us happy. I spent my twenties chasing this system. I thought the more successful I could become, the happier I would be. Chasing the world through business became my priority in life. I was a home builder and developer and my whole purpose was to gain possessions, pleasure, and pride in everything I did. If it did not add to my possessions, give me the best pleasures in life, and build my ego, I didn't do it.
I spent countless hours at the office away from the family. I kept up my religious life but it also took a back seat to the business. In the pursuit of this life, I had placed my goal on acquiring a tract of land from an old friend of the family who lived on 50 acres in a growing section of town. I, and one of my sales people, made a visit to Mrs Howard one afternoon and sat on her screen porch making our presentation on why she should let me have her land. After several minutes of the best sales presentation I could make, it was her turn to respond.
Mrs. Howard did not want to talk about her land, she wanted to talk about her relationship with Jesus. Now this was fine, but that was not on my agenda. But she kept on, and finally turned her attention to how God should be the main part of everyones life. This was not where I wanted her to turn her attention. She began to tell me about a book she had just recently read and asked if I would read the book. Well, I had no intention of reading the book, but if it would get me her land, I would promise to read it.
I did not get her to promise me her land that afternoon. I went back to my office and for two weeks I could not get that book of my mind. Finally. I broke down and bought the book. After reading THE LATE GREAT PLANET EARTH by Hal Lindsey, I went home one day and had a serious conversation with my wife, Jeanie. I told her what had happened and that I had made the decision to get serious about my relationship with Jesus. If Jesus was who He said He was, then I needed to make Him the priority of my life.
Take it from a 69 year old. I am a deal junky, I love my work and I never want to retire. But that urge can rob you of the most important things in your life, your relationship with Jesus and your relationship with your family. Nothing else is more important and nothing but Jesus and your family can bring you the real possessions, pleasures, and pride we grave so much.
