Really Rich!
This past Sunday at church, we were reflecting on how truly rich most of us are. As the message unfolded, I leaned over to my youngest son and asked:
“Do you think you’re hearing this differently after our mission trip to Costa Rica last week?”
He simply nodded.
He had seen what many New Lifers have witnessed on past mission trips—a firsthand picture of life for so many around the world. He saw the daily challenges people face just to meet basic needs. He caught a glimpse of the hardships he’s never had to endure.
In that moment, he received something we all need but often forget:
Perspective.
Perspective is powerful.
It can soften our hearts.
It can realign our thinking.
It can convict us when we’re off track.
And yet—perspective is hard to gain. Harder still to keep.
If I’m honest, my perspective gets most distorted when my priorities slip out of place. It’s a vicious cycle:
Poor perspective leads to misaligned priorities.
And chasing the wrong priorities warps our perspective.
So what’s the solution?
I need constant reminders to recalibrate both.
On the wall of my office hangs one word: SEEK—beneath it, the verse:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
—Matthew 6:33
But even in seeking the right perspective, there’s a subtle danger: we can still fix our eyes on the wrong thing.
For instance, if I made it my mission to simply alleviate the economic and physical struggles we saw in Costa Rica, I might miss something essential. My heart might be in the right place—but my focus would be off.
That’s why Colossians 3:2 is so important:
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Meeting physical needs is meaningful. But it’s not the ultimate goal. What every heart truly needs… is Jesus.
So yes, meet needs. Build relationships. Go on trips. Serve locally. Stretch your comfort zone.
But in all of it—seek Him. Keep your eyes fixed on Christ as you love and serve others.
If you’re struggling with perspective or priorities, consider stepping into something that will stretch you.
Go on a mission trip.
Serve in a ministry that challenges you.
Do something that causes you to seek Him more deeply.
It just might change everything.