Everything we do that is not for God is useless. No matter how noble or great our endeavors and intentions might appear, they are all futile. (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3; Psalm 127:1) No task done for any reason besides the glory of God is worth anything. (1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17) But for glorifying God, we are useless beings doing useless activities. Except for Christ, there is no reason for any of us to live. (Philippians 1:21; Acts 17:28)
It is only when we do things for the glory of God that they have any value and, by extension, give value to us. The whole point of Heaven is to spend eternity glorifying God. (Revelation 7:9-12; Revelation 5:11-13) If that’s the plan for eternity, shouldn’t it be how we spend our lives in the here and now?
Most people spend their lives accumulating stuff. Whether you are a minimalist or a hoarder, you acquire new things every year. Some things, like food, clothing, and shelter, provide practical benefits. Everything else? It’s all useless. We attach a false value to absolute junk. None of it will last. (Matthew 6:19-20; 1 John 2:17) You know the only thing that will last? Anything we do for the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9). That’s it. No matter how important you might perceive that object in your hand (or in your driveway) to be, it’s worthless. Nothing lasts except for the Word of God (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:24-25).
What about all the money we (at least try) to pile up? That’s got to count for something, right? Not one ounce. (Ecclesiastes 5:10-15; Luke 12:15) It will all burn up with the rest (2 Peter 3:10; 1 Corinthians 3:13). Your money can’t save your soul or buy you a place in eternity. (Psalm 49:6-8; Mark 8:36-37) The only good that can come from money is if you spend it in ways that care for others and bring glory to God. Your pension, 401(k), savings account, and even the cash in your pocket are useless. Why do we obsess over accumulating a pile of uselessness? There’s no point!
But oh, what we do for Jesus—that brings eternal rewards and fulfills the purpose for which we were created! (Matthew 6:19-21; Ephesians 2:10) Read and teach God’s Word because He promises it will never return void (Isaiah 55:10-11). That means it has real value. God’s Word has weight and will never decay (Matthew 24:35; Isaiah 40:8). You have nothing else in your life that will not fade, rot, or break (1 Peter 1:24-25; 2 Corinthians 4:18). Jesus cannot and will do none of those things. He alone is unchanging forever. (Hebrews 13:8; Malachi 3:6) That’s why you want to focus all your energy on serving Him. (Colossians 3:23-24; Romans 12:11)
Don’t live a useless life doing useless things for useless reasons. Look at your life. How much time do you spend on that which will not last, and how little time are you giving to Him who is eternal? This isn’t a game, and the question is not trivial. The end will come for each of us, and when it does, God will judge all that we’ve done for its eternal value. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:12) How much of what you have is going to pass that test? Live and breathe Jesus and put away all the foolish things of this world. (Colossians 3:1-2; 1 John 2:15-17) Jesus is Lord, and only what we do for Him matters. Everything else is useless. (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31)