Scott Stephens is the counseling pastor at West End Baptist Church’s West End Counseling Center, a board member of Redeemer Biblical Counseling Training Institute, and a PhD student in the Biblical Counseling Program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. To find out more about our counseling center (WECC), please call the church at 864-232-7312.
Last Sunday, our pastor, Marty, said something that resonated with me during his sermon. He was preaching about God’s pruning of His children, as taught in John 15:2. As he taught us, he said, “We clutter our lives with things of no eternal value.” The Lord pierced my heart with that statement. Since then, I’ve considered many ways I have literally “wasted” my time.
Although I love The Andy Griffith Show, binge-watching six seasons of Andy, Barney, Opie, and Aunt Bea most likely falls into the category of “cluttering my life with things of no eternal value.” While I can argue that there is something relaxing and rejuvenating about slowing down and watching a show about simpler times, If I’m honest, I must admit that I have wasted time by doing it to the extent I did.
In Psalm 90, we read a prayer that Moses prayed to God, asking Him to teach his people to count their days so that they would obtain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).
Moses knew that life is short, and we tend to forget this valuable truth. Oddly enough, I have two sticky notes on my computer screen, one that says, “Talents: Use what you have been given wisely,” and the second, “Does what I’m doing have eternal value?” Even though I have those two notes right in front of me, I didn’t think twice about watching 159 episodes of Andy Griffith.
I had reminders to do better, but they weren’t enough to bring about change. They did not provide the change of heart that I needed. Moses was right when he relied on God to change hearts. God has to give us a heart of wisdom.
So, how do we receive a wise heart that focuses on the eternal? The teaching and preaching of the Word of God convicted me; it convicts all believers. God uses expository preaching (preaching based on explaining the text of the Bible) to convict us and change our hearts.
God speaks to us through His Word. Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Isaiah 55:11 tells us, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Since we know that Scripture penetrates the deepest recesses of God’s children (the soul, joints, marrow) and God’s Word will accomplish whatever He intends, it is important to pay attention to Scripture that speaks to the necessity of having an eternal focus.
2 Corinthians 4:18 says, “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Colossians 3:1-3 tells us, “If then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
Matthew 16:20 warns us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
Matthew 16:21 provides important information. It says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Someone wise once said that we can usually determine where our treasure is by examining what dominates our thoughts, finances, and time. If our time, talents, and treasure are being used for something other than that which is eternal, we should consider making some hard changes in our lives.
We all have something like an Andy Griffith Show in our lives. It may be gardening, watching or playing sports, playing video games, shopping, traveling, etc. Anything, when done in moderation, can be good for us. God provides us with incredible things to enjoy. We must be careful, though. When that activity takes priority over eternal things, it’s time to reevaluate your priorities.
It’s easy to lose sight of what is important as we live in this world. Remember, we are not of this world. We are sojourners traveling to our true home in heaven (Hebrews 11:13). We, too, need to pray, as Moses did, that we will gain wisdom to focus on things that have an eternal impact.
