Covey’s Habit #2 – Begin with the End in Mind
Christian Habit #2 – Make your days count
The Bible counsels that God’s people perish for lack of vision (Proverbs 29:18). We all plan ahead when we take a vacation. We plan our work activities and the activities of our children. In fact, the first thing that most of us do, when we wake up each morning, is we plan out the activities we intend to do for that day. However, seldom is this planning extrapolated into our Christian lives.
Most of us live in a manner as if we will live permanently, amassing wealth and materialistic blessings (and there is nothing wrong with that), however, let us not forget that our final destination is heaven, not earth. In God’s economy, what we do for ourselves counts to be nothing, but what we do for him and his people, even the least of the brethren, great is a reward – heaven (Matthew 25:34-40).
My brother, Remo, who is a full-time missionary with Reaching Hand Society, serving Jesus with my mother, Dr. Iris Paul, in state of Orissa, India, once shared with me that working for Jesus Christ, is as follows – The work is hard, the pay is low, the hours are long, but the retirement benefits are out of this world (literally). How true? Let’s remember to focus on beginning with the end in mind, making our days count.
Point(s) to ponder:
Are we living our lives in such a manner that
- those who remember us after we are dead and gone, will remember the God we served?
- we are investing in the lives of others, leaving behind a legacy and not necessarily an inheritance?
- our treasures are being stored in heaven and not on earth? (Matthew 6:19-20)
- our days count?
Lord, teach us to number our days (Psalm 90), make them count. Let us remember to live with focus on the end in the mind. Has anyone, ever see any titles like CEO, President, Vice President, Manager etc on tombstones? There are no titles on epitaphs.
To be a highly effective Christian, we ought to be in the will of God and his plan for our lives and live it accordingly so that we make each of our days count.
For a related reading, see Teach us to number our days.
Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)
18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Matthew 25:34-40 (KJV)
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
