What really matters? It is the question of the ages. The answer is rooted in love, knowledge, and insight.
Here’s a transcript:
I’m thinking about the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi (Philippians 1:3-11). Paul wrote it while imprisoned — a circumstance that he said was actually helping to spread the good news — but his writing it to the church in Philippi appears to have been more in the way of comforting them than it was in the seeking their consolation.
Above all, the apostle praised them for their faithfulness and their kindness. And in this opening section, he wrote that he hoped that their love would overflow with knowledge and insight to help them know “what really matters.”
And that is the question for all of us, isn’t it? What really matters?
Oh, there’s plenty of people who will tell you what really matters. In the newspapers, on the television, on the radio, there are lots of people who will tell you that what really matters, especially in this season, is the purchase of this, that, or the other thing to make your life (or the life of someone else) better. That is what really matters. Others will tell you that what really matters is your physical health. They’ll tell you what really matters is your mental health. They’ll tell you that what really matters is the global economy. They’ll tell you that what really matters is some sort of sense of pride. And indeed, all of these count.
It’s good to be physically healthy. It’s good to have a sound global economy. It’s good to have a sense of self-worth. It’s good.
If we want to know what really matters, or what Paul thought really matters, well, it’s best to read the rest of the letter of Philippians, because, after all, he had the rest of the letter to reflect on it, but the clues are there, even in the way he put it. “Let your love overflow with knowledge and insight.”
These are the ingredients for what matters: knowledge and insight. These are things that we achieve through effort, through study, through asking questions of people and not simply sitting around and observing and assuming, but of studying and considering and, above all, when you don’t know: ask. But even knowledge and insight are not enough, because where does it begin?
It begins in the overflow of love, the overflow of compassion, the overflow of consideration of someone (or someones) else. This is the foundation of what matters.
As we go through this Advent season, as we prepare for the holiday of Christmas, as you go out and look for all those wonderful things that the advertisers would like you to buy, remember that what really matters is the overflow of your love through knowledge and through insight.
That is what really matters.
That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below. I’d love to hear from you.
