Reading: Acts 20:28—38“Never did I set my heart on anyone’s silver or gold or envy the way he dressed.” Those are the words of Paul to the elders of Ephesus as he was getting ready to leave them. What Paul had his heart set on was Jesus Christ.
Everything he said or did was to help him become one with Christ. Things of the world were important to Paul only in so far as they could help him get by day to day. He wasn’t lazy, he did his own work of making tents to make enough money to live on. But other than that, for him it was Jesus Christ he valued most - first, last, and always. Isn’t that what everyone should value most?
How much of our lives do we waste wanting the latest? Fine houses, designer clothes, luxurious cars. We dream of making or winning millions so we can buy anything we want. What would it be like to be not only a millionaire but a billionaire? Most of us will never know. But do we spend maybe a lot of time thinking about it? Is that where our hearts often are? Lotteries thrive on such desires. St. Paul hints that such dreams and pursuits are nothing more than exercises in futility. If we don’t have Jesus Christ we will always be among the poorest of the poor.
Think of all the people who have gone before us. What was most important to them while they were on earth? What do they have now? Only people who value Christ about all else and spend their lives pursuing him find happiness. What do you and I value most?
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