What Are You Chasing After?

Friends in Christ, the Bible tells us “do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" Matthew 6:25 (NIV) Here is a little story to help us keep perspective on our pursuits in life.  An American investment banker was vacationing in a small village in Greece. While walking near a pier he observed a small boat with just one fisherman. Inside the boat with the village fisherman were several yellow-fin tuna. The American complimented the man on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. "Only a little while," replied the fisherman. The American then asked why he didn't stay out longer and catch more fish. The man said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs. The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" The fisherman responded, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take an afternoon nap with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I relax and play guitar with my friends. I have a full and busy life."

The American scoffed, "You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat and with the proceeds generated from the bigger boat buy a fleet of boats. Instead of selling your fish to a middleman, you could sell directly to a processor. You could eventually open your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You could leave this small village and move to a big city where you could run your expanding enterprise." The village fisherman asked, "But how long will this take?" The American replied, "15 to 20 years!" "But then what?" asked the fisherman. The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. You can sell your business and retire and move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take naps with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could relax and play guitar with your friends. You would have a full and busy life." The village fisherman smiled at the American, quietly gathered his catch and walked away. What are you chasing after in life? How (and with whom) you spend the bulk of your time may reveal much about your priorities. Jesus said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21, NIV) Each one of us must ask ourselves, “What kind of treasures am I building? Are these treasures temporary or will they last forever? We must take a look at our lives and examine our priorities. Are you satisfied with your priorities? Are the investments you make in time and relationships in line with your priorities? And, are your priorities in synch with the teachings of the Lord, the Bible, and the teachings of HisChurch? Take some time for selfexamination look into your heart and pray that the Lord will enlighten your mind and heart to do all things for His glory.