This last month we have had renewed energy for some minor home improvement projects. I suppose we were in part spurred on by an ongoing Lowe's clearance sale which makes some improvement ideas more doable without breaking the bank. Lowe's has had an interesting slogan which states, "Never Stop Improving" which we used as a basis of a Daily Encouragement message six years ago. That's a good slogan for our spiritual life as well!

We've lived in our present home now for over 16 years, the longest either one of us has lived at one address. At this point we have no plans to live elsewhere in the near future but of course our times are in God's hands. We feel very blessed to be living in our current home and especially enjoy our location out in the country. To borrow a line many of you have heard or said, "We are doing much better than we deserve".

Our home and other possessions are a blessing but we must keep a perspective on their comparative value to that which is supremely important. Consider the first daily verse as a personal prayer: "Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your word."

It is found in the midst of the longest chapter in the entire Bible, Psalm 119. Sometimes when reading through a longer section of the Bible we can easily miss some spiritual nuggets. There's a tendency to dutifully read the entire passage without pondering each phrase and considering the deeper or further meaning. I have a good minister friend who did a verse by verse study on this long chapter which reminded me of the importance of chewing on each precious morsel of God's Word.

Today's text is, of course translated a bit differently in other translations. This one from the Amplified Bible sheds further light, "Turn my eyes away from vanity [all those worldly, meaningless things that distract—let Your priorities be mine], and restore me [with renewed energy] in Your ways".

When viewed through spiritual eyes all the neat stuff of this present life that is so visually appealing and sought after is worthless in comparison to that which really matters from an eternal perspective. That's what we need to constantly remember.

What "worthless things" was the Psalmist was referring to? One commentary states "idols and idolatry". Interestingly the final verse in 1 John is, "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols". These worthless things might be similar to that which was written by Isaac Watts in his classic hymn, "When I survey the wondrous cross" where he states, "All the vain things that charm me most". Although each generation has had these worthless and vain things (which can be idols) we have a feeling  they are far more prominent in our day than they were three thousand years ago when David lived or three hundred years ago when Isaac Watts lived. In our generation we are exposed to a whole lot more "worthless things" and a much greater variety!

The Psalmist was wise in identifying this truth and making it a request. Do you see these worthless things surrounding you today? Many, like improving your home, are not necessarily bad, indeed many are a blessing from God and we should be thankful for them, but compared to those things that matter most from an eternal perspective they are indeed "worthless."

Consider the Apostle Paul's perspective on this matter: "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."

Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber