Better Things

“Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.” Proverbs 23:4

“Get rich or die trying” is a common attitude in our culture; so much so that the wrap artist “50 Cent” used the phrase as the title of his debut album. The problem with this mindset is that we’re not the only ones who suffer in the process. Not only does our health and over-all quality of life suffer, but also those around us suffer as well; namely, our families. It is for this reason the Scripture tells us to “have the wisdom to show restraint.” Granted, some people have to work long and hard just to get the bills paid, but there are those who work long and hard unnecessarily, sacrificing the better things in life for a bigger paycheck, a bigger house, a newer car, bigger toys, and so on.

As was stated in the previous devotion, Jesus said that a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. So, in John 10:10 when Jesus said that He came that we might have life and have it more abundantly, he didn’t mean that he came to give us more stuff, but he came to give us more life. He came so that we may experience life more fully, and one way to do that is to stop living for possessions and to start living for people.

So take a moment to stop and think about your life. Are you living for possessions or for people? Where are your priorities? If you don’t know, look at your calendar and your checkbook and see what you’re spending your time and money on. Is your family happy? Ask them! Are you happy? Now is the time to exercise wisdom. Perhaps you need to start showing restraint in your financial priorities and be more liberal in your time with people, especially your family.

You’ve only got one life, don’t use it to acquire a bunch of stuff that you can’t take with you in the end. Instead, think about the quality of your life and of those around you and invest yourself in those better things.