.....matters

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ Philippians 3:7-8

Fred Craddock once shared a compelling story about a missionary family in China who, when forced to leave their home, were given just two hours to pack up their lives. They were allowed only 100 kilos of belongings, and in their frantic efforts, the family debated which items to include — a cherished vase, a brand-new typewriter, a few treasured books — each weighed carefully until they reached exactly 100 kilos.

Then came the twist that would change their perspective forever: when the soldiers returned, they asked, “Did you weigh the kids?” In that instant, every object — the vase, the typewriter, the books — all became worthless compared to their children. What once seemed so essential was revealed to be mere "trash" next to the true treasures of life.

This story challenges us to examine the weight we assign to the things in our lives. Imagine if our choices were as clear-cut as they were for that couple! If we were forced to decide, we would obviously choose the priceless gift of our loved ones over any material possession, but life rarely presents us with such a simple choice.

Instead, we may find ourselves caught between the demands of work and the desire to spend quality time with our families. Every day, we make multiple decisions regarding how to spend our time, how to spend our money, where to focus our attention. And God wants us to ask, “What truly is most important in my life?

In Philippians 3, Paul writes, "Whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ….I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." Like Paul, we’re also called to value our spiritual treasures above all else.

When life tempts us to prioritize material gain or worldly achievement, we need to remember that our relationships, our faith, and our time spent in God's presence are the true treasures that can never be measured on any scale. Every day we’re given a choice — to invest in what brings lasting joy and eternal significance, or to let trivial matters taken up our time and attention. May this serve as a gentle reminder that we all need to evaluate our priorities.

- alan smith

Father, thank you for reminding us what’s really important. In a world that often measures worth by weight and value, help us to focus on those things that matter most. In Jesus’ name, amen.