July 21

One Thing Needful

Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval. — John 6:27 BSB

We would consider a man very foolish if he spent a great deal of money building a beautiful house, focusing only on the exterior, while neglecting the interior, leaving the walls unfinished, the rooms full of debris, and without any furniture or decorations. No one can find comfort in a house with a beautiful exterior if everything inside is bare and unwelcoming. A wise person would focus more on the interior of their home, making it beautiful, warm, and comfortable, so they can truly enjoy living there.

Even more foolish is the person who thinks only of their physical needs and gives no thought to the needs of their soul. They are caring for the outside, while neglecting the inner life. They provide for their body, which will soon perish, but give no care to their soul, which will last forever. They plan only for the present, ignoring the eternal. How sad it is to see a life that turns away from the best, most holy, beautiful, and lasting things, and instead pursues things that are worthless and burdensome, offering no true enrichment to the person who possesses them.

Jesus teaches us to prioritize our spiritual needs. It’s a terrible mistake to spend all our days working for food, clothing, wealth, and honor, while doing nothing for the inner life. At the end of such a life, there will be nothing to show for all the work, pain, and sacrifice. But if we care for our souls, when this life ends, we will have eternal life to look forward to. A good motto for life is, "Live for the things that are eternal."