Riches do not benefit on the day of wrath, but righteousness rescues from death.”—Proverbs 11:4 NASB

The Bible reminds us of basic facts. Simply, all of us alike face this fate. We all have opportunities to develop these gifts, talents, and resources. In the process, we all have choices. We tend to focus on our immediate needs and circumstances. This leads to the process of fostering short-term pleasures and eliminating short-term problems. The idea of developing a longer-term perspective on life is difficult, particularly when we are so dominated by our immediate needs and opportunities. The practical approach seems to be a short-term focus, but in reality, it is the longer-term perspective that is not only more practical but also more beneficial. This is the perspective that deals with issues over the longer term of our lives and leads to benefits that we will enjoy more often and deals with, and even eliminates, longer-term problems. The Bible encourages us to approach life as a long-term investment. We may think that short-term thinking solves the most problems and benefits us the most. But the problem with this kind of thinking is that we inevitably face a series of short-term problems. Having addressed them once, we inevitably will face them—or other similar issues—again very soon. Ask God to help you focus on pleasing Him. Invest the resources and opportunities He has given you. Ask God to give you His perspective on life. We have choices. Gain His perspective on how you should live and the choices you should make.

Reflection Question: How can you remember to keep a long-term perspective on life?

“The sons of Ephraim were archers equipped with bows, yet they turned back on the day of battle. They did not keep the covenant of God and refused to walk in His law; they forgot His deeds and His miracles.”—Psalm 78:9–11 NASB

The men of Ephraim were trained for battle and equipped with all the resources they needed. Despite this preparation, they turned back without even engaging the enemy. The sad thing was that they had everything they needed to succeed. God had given them His promises. They could even look back at their experiences and realize He had been faithful in the past. They could depend on Him to keep His Word. But they chose to ignore this spiritual reality. The Bible tells us that God had given them His covenant, but they did not keep it. He had given them His Word, but they refused to believe it. They even forgot all the things that He had done for them, including mighty miracles. They turned aside, forgot the promises of God, forgot His deeds in the past, and went their own way. God wanted future generations to learn from their example and instead learn to walk in faith and face any situation with confidence in Him. We may find ourselves discouraged and feeling hopeless. We may be tired or feel outnumbered. Today, remember to trust in God. Don’t be dominated by fear or expect defeat. Face opposition with confidence. Always remember that God is with you. Stay confident in Him. Don’t turn back. Always move forward. Trust Him.

Reflection Question: What area of your life do you need courage to face?