Daily Encouragement: Day 291

Adapted from Handbook to Spiritual Growth

TWO RIVAL VALUE SYSTEMS

The temporal value system demands no trust and dependence upon God because it is based on what is seen; the eternal value system, on the other hand, is unseen and therefore requires a walk of faith (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 8:24–25).

Our culture bombards us with the mentality that this world is all there is and tells us, in effect, that the goal of life is: “Maximize your pleasure and minimize your pain. Build a name for yourself if you can, and establish a progeny.” There are many variations, but the enticing wisdom of this world, as observed by the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, is always derived from what is “under the sun.” The wisdom which comes from above, from beyond the sun, tells us that we are immortal creatures and that this brief moment on this planet is as nothing compared to the eternal existence that awaits us.