Ever had someone ask you what’s your five-year plan?

Or how about if you’re financially stable? Are you ready to start a family? Really, what are you striving for? What is the purpose of all the hard work you’re putting in? For the comfort of tomorrow?

Where does it all go? My friend, what if I told you this world has nothing for you?

“You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14).

These short years of your life are but a vapour compared to eternity. But what you decide on in this passing moment will affect your eternity, as well as the eternity of many others. The choices you make today have an everlasting influence.

If you could truly feel the weight of your decisions, how much better would you make them? Is life really just about studying, getting a good job, starting a nice family and ensuring a pleasant retirement?

I’m pleading with you, with all my heart: Don’t live a life of tragedy.
There is nothing wrong with dreams. There is nothing wrong with wanting to build a nice household and have nice things. There is nothing wrong with being an excellent worker unto God and enjoying the fruits of your labour.

Grow where you’re planted. If you’re a shoemaker, make good shoes. If you’re a businessman, do honest business. If you’re an artist, create beauty. If you’re a homemaker, build an excellent family.

But if you’re only fixated on excelling in these aspects of life for the sake of comfort in this temporary home, you will lose sight of what will happen beyond life here.

That is a tragedy. Anything that is done in vainglory — and not for God — is done in vain.

Everything in this life is meaningless unless done for things of eternal value.

Sometimes, we like to separate the Gospel from secular aspects of life such as business, family and music-making. We don’t realise that the true gospel encompasses all facets of life!

It’s not a one-way thing where Jesus dies — full-stop. Faith in Christ means your whole life is wholly dedicated to Him. Jesus died for you so you can have a new life in Him. Don’t give up your life for the temporal things of the world.

Spend it on eternal things — give it to Jesus!

Comfort in this world is a parasite that demands more and more — but true contentment lies in God (1 Tim 6:6).

This world really has nothing for you. Everything in this life is meaningless unless done for things of eternal value. Hold on to the things of this world loosely (this doesn’t mean irresponsibly) in the knowledge that they are temporal — they will fade unlike our eternal God.

“I have seen all the things done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14)

I understand that you want what’s best for your family, especially if you have children. We have been raised in a culture which teaches that money is what makes the world go round. It may be difficult to accept the truth that there is a greater life beyond amassing worldly possessions.

But if you are able to trust God with your life and your family’s lives, He will provide wherever He calls you to. Where He leads — He feeds.

In Africa, we have this popular song called Bambelela, which literally translates to “hold on”.

Wherever you are right now in your life, hold on and hold on to Jesus. Cling tight and never let go. If He is moving, move with Him. Go wherever He is calling you to.

Many of us are called into missions — we are all called to the Great Commission — but only a few respond because we are so often tied down by the fears of this world.

Yet the greatest fulfilment you can have on earth is living the life that God has destined you for — I’ve chosen to follow God all over the world and I’ve never once regretted it.

A life for God isn’t a boring one — it’s an adventure. So don’t shortchange yourself.