Don’t Settle For Lesser Things

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Imagine this scenario: you and I and a 5-year-old child are watching a movie together— one of those animated movies that kids love but that have enough humor for the grown-ups to enjoy as well. We’re having a lovely time. Then imagine that the fairy godmother steps out of the movie into the living room and announces that we have all won a two-week all-expenses-paid vacation to the Caribbean. The bags are packed and it’s time to head to the airport. Just imagine that this is legit– a real offer.

Now. Here’s the question. As the fairy godmother turns off the television, which one of us movie watchers says, “Hey! I’m watching that! Turn it back on! I don’t wanna go anywhere!”?

I’ll give you a hint: it ain’t me! It isn’t you either. It’s the child, of course, because children only know the NOW. And children are not good at judging and comparing the value of things. They will often choose whatever pleasant thing comes first, even if it is of far less value.

This idea comes from C.S. Lewis in The Weight of Glory, and he applies it to the difficulty we have in comparing the value of physical versus spiritual things. We, too, often choose lesser things.

We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

For a Bible example, consider the man in Mark 10:17-22. He was offered eternal life, but he chose to hold on to his wealth instead. Now, honestly, if Jesus asked me to sell everything I have and give it to the poor, I’m not sure I would comply either. But when we’re asked to give up something, we have to consider what there is to be gained. Imagine if the man had obeyed. In return, he would have been able to follow Jesus, literally; to live in the presence of the Messiah and learn from him directly on a daily basis! How cool would that have been?!

Unfortunately he chose the lesser thing. He chose the physical over the spiritual.

In John 12:42-43, some of the Jewish leaders who believed in Christ would not confess him because “they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” The praise of men is something we definitely find alluring as well. And admittedly, it is more immediate and more tangible than God’s praise. We don’t literally hear God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” (Matthew 25:21,23), every time we do the right thing. We have to wait for those words. And if the people around us don’t want us following Jesus, as in the case of these rulers who believed, it can be very hard to endure their disapproval and rejection.

Something else we may love more than God is pleasure (2 Timothy 3:4). God created pleasure, and He wants us to enjoy the pleasant things of this life, but within the bounds of His law. When we allow pleasure to become a god to us, putting the physical above the spiritual, the temporary above the eternal, we are choosing lesser things.

When we look at what God is offering us—

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain. (Revelation 21:4)

—it makes no sense to choose lesser things, like possessions, men’s approval, or physical pleasure. These things do not truly satisfy, and such pleasures come to an end, often all too quickly. Rather let us follow the example of Paul, who, though he “suffered the loss of all things.. count[ed] them as rubbish that [he] might gain Christ,” (Philippians 3:8).

You wouldn’t choose a two-hour movie over a free two-week vacation. Likewise, when choosing a focus for your life, don’t settle for lesser things!

Dear God, forgive me for sometimes focusing on what I have to lose in serving You rather than what I have to gain. I know that what You have promised the faithful, in this life and the next, is worth far more than any earthly thing. Remind me day by day, hour by hour, of the immense value of heaven, so that my heart and my treasure may be there. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

by Christie Cole Atkins