3 John 1:2 Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.

Priorities are an issue every moment of our lives. John desired that Gaius be in good physical health, but he recognized that his spiritual health had priority. The world sees physical health and financial prosperity as paramount, largely ignoring the spiritual, when that has it backwards. At the end of life, another decimal place in your bank statement is going to make no difference. Even physical health, which is more intensely personal, doesn’t last forever, despite dictators discussing living to 150. Even a lifespan of 150 years is meaningless compared to eternity! We have a lot of trouble maintaining that perspective, because we are caught up in the nitty gritty of our daily lives. The interesting thing is that even secular psychologists say that our attitude toward life has far more impact on our actual happiness than the specific things that happen to us. When our perspective and priorities are straight, we can indeed “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) That is what it means for our soul to prosper.

As I have written before, I have had non-Christians bring their friends to meet me because they wanted them to meet “someone who enjoys living.” I don’t think that reputation is undeserved, but I have my moments when it doesn’t seem that way. I sometimes get into fights with computers or cellphones, and that certainly isn’t enjoyable. At the same time, the very existence of those devices was science fiction, even in my own youth. This past Sunday we decorated the church building for Christmas, and I thoroughly stressed out, as I do just about every year. I still have trouble with perspective! Today is my wife’s birthday, and I want it to be fully enjoyable for her. For that to be the case, I’ve got to maintain the right priorities and perspective about everything that goes on, delighting in making it delightful for her. If I am focused on myself, I also will miss out on the blessings God has planned for us today. I too am still growing, but that awareness is part of the perspective I need to maintain, so I’m to be at peace with that.

Father, thank You for this timely reminder. Thank You for all You enabled me to get done yesterday. Thank You that the lights around the building are going well, though they aren’t complete. Guide in when I do what, so that I won’t stress out and the results will be fully attractive. May I indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, just as You have told me to do, so that I will be the agent of blessing You want me to be, to my wife and everyone else around me, for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!