“But seek ye first the kingdom of
God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”—Matthew
6:33 (KJV)
“You Can’t
Take it With You” is a well-known phrase. It’s also the name of a famous
American play and movie. What, exactly, does it mean? The statement clarifies
the need to prioritize in life. That theme is portrayed in the film when a wealthy banker learns to value family over
money.
The gospel
is about how we treat ourselves, others, and God. It’s a pattern for nurturing
connections.
Joseph
This young
man is a prime example of placing importance on relatives. He had been bullied and
sold into slavery by his own brothers. He ended up in Egypt, where he had a
long journey:
house slaveèprisonerèdream interpreterèsecond-in-command to pharaoh
The
mistreated teenager literally moved from the pit to the palace, but that’s
another story. The point is that he didn’t forget his relatives. He wasn’t
overcome by bitterness.
During the
famine, Joseph’s brothers went to Egypt to ask for food. They were surprised to
find their sibling in charge of the supplies
Joseph knew what was important. He
held great power in Egypt, but the great man used that strength to help his
family. He gave his
brothers food to take home.
The Lesson From Joseph
That crucial
idea applies to every one of us. There are two assets we take with us into the
next life:
Everything
else ends on Earth. It’s window dressing. That’s why we must choose where, and
how, to spend our time and energy.
Prioritizing
We’re all
busy in our own way. Many of my acquaintances have multiple volunteer and paid
responsibilities. They still put family first.
These attributes
can give us love. They can make us feel warm and fuzzy. They may take care of
us in our old age, if we play our
cards right:
Friends and Family
Let’s look
at the opposite side. These concepts will not
support us emotionally--ever:
Fashionable clothes and jewelry, a
successful career, millions of social-media followers, (who are actually
strangers following their own agendas), the latest gadgets, a hefty financial
portfolio, an elite education
Legacies
People
nearing the end of their lives uniformly concern themselves with what they’re
leaving behind, or how they’ll be remembered. They don’t care about…
- Huge bank accounts
- A list of five college degrees behind their names on their tombstones
In fact, past
and present millionaires often donate large parts of their money to build and
maintain charitable causes and institutions, such as Bill Gates, John D.
Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. After a lifetime of pushing forward in the ruthless
world of business, the American tycoons of the late 19th century
switched to philanthropy.
My Conclusion
The world advertises
that certain attitudes and possessions will bring us acceptance and success. That’s
a lie to further the agenda of the top 1% of society.
Momentary pleasure ≠ lasting love and
happiness
Healthy relationships (with others
and with God) = long-lasting joy
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