A Lesson in Priorities

THOSE WHO ARE GENEROUS ENJOY THE FRUIT OF PROPER PRIORITIES.

Bible Reading of the Day: Read Luke 12:13-15.

Verse of the Day: “Real life is not measured by how much we own” (Luke 12:15).

“Wow!” Dad said to Nan. “That’s some house your friend lives in!” He and Nan had just dropped off one of Nan’s friends after a school event.

“Yeah, I guess so,” Nan answered.

“You guess so? That house must have more rooms than Buckingham Palace. What do your friend’s parents do?” Dad asked.

Nan shrugged. “Her dad’s like some big important lawyer or something,” she said.

“Wouldn’t you like to live in a place like that?” Dad said, more to himself than to Nan. He took one more longing look at the impressive house as it faded out of sight.

“No!” Nan said, emphatically.

“What?” Dad asked. He hadn’t even been sure Nan was listening.

“I said no, I wouldn’t want to live in a place like that.”

“Why not?” Dad asked, suddenly attentive.

“Because, Dad, there are lots of things more important than impressive jobs and fancy houses and lots of money.”

Nan stopped speaking, but Dad said nothing. He suspected that Nan wasn’t finished. He was right.

“Most days,” Nan continued, referring to her friend, “Rachel doesn’t even see her father. He’s too busy making money. She says he’s always talking about how she’ll have it made when he dies; she’ll never have to worry about a thing. But she just wishes her dad would quit trying to make so much money and spend time with her instead.”

Nan was crying now. “You know what I think? I think Rachel’s father is so wrapped up in making a lot of money that he can’t see what’s really important. I think if he would just stop trying to have the biggest house or the fastest car in the world, he might realize he’s got a really cool daughter who just wants to know her daddy loves her.”

Nan stopped talking, then, and they drove in silence for a while. It was Dad who finally broke the silence.

“You know what I think?” he said. “I think you’ve got to be the best friend—and the best daughter-in the whole world.”

Nan wiped her tears with the back of her hand and leaned over to kiss her father. “I love you, Daddy,” she said.

TO DISCUSS: What do you think Jesus meant when he said, “Real life is not measured by how much we own” (Luke 12:15)? Be as specific as you can.

TO PRAY: “Lord, we need help in keeping our priorities straight. Help us to remember that real life isn’t measured by how much we own.”