Recently one of my students sent me an e-mail with an interesting variation on this. For his signature line it stated:
“The best things in life – aren’t things at all.”

I thought to myself, it’s just a cool little paraphrase, but it made me ponder and think about writing.

What are the most important things?

My answer to that is that the best things in life are founded in “relationships.”
Yes, all things considered, life is all about relationships. You might even say “God appointed” relationships.

First and foremost is our relationship to God Himself, through what Jesus Christ did.
Then next, there are relationships with family and then friends.

I am referring to genuine, long term Christian community kinship where trust is always present..Where you know a friend is there to cover your back if anything fails. Through relationships with friends – God performs His work, fulfills His plan as one friend ministers to the other friend. From the God appointed relationships comes a safe place and a sense of peace.

One common list of pursuits today often seems rather random as follows:

1. Money – There’s nothing wrong with money. Money is a good thing, it allows us to do things and it is exceptionally good to have money (so long as it does not replace God.)
2. Freedom from mortgages and debt. (It’s a good feeling to be out of debt, but will anyone remember in 100 years from now?)
3. Relationships – (these days relationships come and go – but there is often something missing from some relationships.)
4. Long term planning – Make sure we have something left for our old age

…But I’m going to stop right there for a second. What if we reordered the list differently?

“Seek first the kingdom of God, and then all these things will be added unto you.” Now that Bible verse makes me ask why does it seem that for today’s time we have things all turned around backwords. Many folks are not happy very in their current relationships and perhaps we need to reconsider the order of things based on what God thinks is important – instead of what we think is important.

Let’s try that again…in a different order:

1. What if it were to start with “relationships.” First – beginning with a relationship with God.
2. Then with the next most important thing – genuine relationships with people that God raises up around us.
3. What about letting God help you find that perfect life partner for you?
4. Then more, what if we paid attention to the friends that God raises up around us.
5. Money – well it comes and it goes and it’s important – but God is not interested in money (which is temporal)
6. What if we were to invest and focus on the things most important to God – and that is “people.”

As God’s Spirit teaches us, renews our minds and makes us alive through ministry, Christian community kinship and understanding God’s Word, then our philosophies can become more properly balanced.

How important is what you believe?

It’s pretty important. It’s our very own “personal philosophy” that is being shaped.
Here is a paraphrase of something I read (can’t remember where) but I liked it:

1. Our attitude – leads to the daily activitities we perform (or do not perform) or what we take part in.
2. The results we achieve produces the lifestyle we live in.
3. The daily activities we choose to take part in – will contribute to the end results that we achieve.

So then what are the most important things in life?

Life is not about accumulating vast wealth or properties.
God does not need your money and any amount of money will not impress him.
How big your home is, or how expensive your clothes are or even how many years
you have been a member of some Church – will not impress Him.

What God does care about is people. Life is all about people. People are eternal and God cares about all people.

Remember, when we invest in caring about people rather than “things,” then you are investing your time caring about what God cares about most.

Wishing you the very best,
John Alexander

John Alexander is Co-director of Training at seo skills classes with his partner SEO educator Robin Nobles, author of the very first optimization courses. John is author of the Free SEO Tip of the Day, author of Wordtracker Magic e-books and is part of the Faithful relations at Crosslands Church in Newmarket, Ontatrio.

We select a focus area like a Google campaign, email marketing, organic SEO, or Social Media to determine how our research, and applied testing impacts your Internet traffic conversion.

This can be exciting in the discovery of effective Internet tools to reach out with the gospel of Jesus Christ, or to discover methods in which you can serve your members more effectively.

I want to invite you to learn more about how a Research Partnership can take your outreach ministry to another level.

Are you determined to reach your goal? Do you really believe you can achieve what you set out to accomplish? With determination and belief, you too can make the same choice to turn a failed situation into a winning one. How? By choosing to adapt a positive perspective and engage in edifying self-talk. Here are four opportunities to stay motivated in the midst of failure:

“The Only Direction is UP” or “It Can’t Get Any Worse”

Feel like you’ve hit rock bottom? Don’t beat up on yourself too badly. To experience disappointment, heartbreak, embarrassment and/or self-doubt is to be human. However, to wallow in this state for too long is downright destructive. Tell yourself that it doesn’t get much worse than this point of failure and let yourself know that the only place left to go is “upward.” Use the failure as motivation to start climbing back up. When you do this, you will see that instead of running from failure you will look it in the eye and overcome it.

“I Have a Chance to Do Better Next Time”

As long as you’re breathing, there’s always room for improvement. Choose to use your failure as motivation to do better the next time around. When you remember your goal and envision reaching it, you will be super-charged to find ways to develop yourself. For example, if you need to do better in school, make (and follow) a consistent study schedule. If you are intent on a promotion at work, take classes to increase your skill-set. No matter what the failed task consists of, you can use it to motivate yourself to get more done.

“Hmmm, I May Need to Change Direction”

Does it seem like you’ve come to a roadblock? Then the solution may just be detouring and moving toward your goal in a different way. When something does not work out as planned, you need to re-evaluate the route you are taking. So review the situation, re-group and get on a track “around” that roadblock. The track may be a different one, but it may also be a more successful one.

“This is Not the End of the Line”

Know this: everyone fails from time to time but failure is not the end of the line unless you allow it to be. You blundered, you tried, you failed and it hurts. Allow yourself time to grieve it but then let it go so that you can get back to the business of reaching your intended goal. Your goal IS your motivation. Remind yourself that the only positive option is to seek ways to turn the situation around. Then tell yourself that in the morning, you will begin again!