Article: Short Term vs. Long Term

Well, it is Holy Week. I am currently buried in the details of this week — worship planning, services, logistics, writing sermons, writing this article and the hundred other small things that have to happen between now and Easter Sunday.

That is a lot of little things. I am not complaining at all, I love Holy Week! I am reminded that all those things mentioned above seem really, really important in the moment but none of them will have any importance a week from now. Yes, this is a perspective check. Certainly, things need to get done but what is the bigger picture?

Humans are wired to address immediate obstacles, while God addresses eternal problems first.

Jesus tells a parable about this.

And Jesus told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’

“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

“This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:16-21

This parable is often titled, “The Parable of the Rich Fool”.

Yet from a human perspective, this guy is smart. This guy is business savvy. This guy is taking care of his family.  He’s the kind of guy you want to learn from.

Why would I say that? Because he is a detail guy. He gets the job done. He is a short term strategist.

Jesus points out that all of his success counts for nothing when he takes his last breath.

Parables are meant to shock us and re-orient us.

This parable isn’t meant to evoke either/or thinking. Instead it is a both/and moment for us.

Yes, we need to take care of the daily tasks and obstacles, but to what end? A less stressful life? Yes! But that is not the end of the matter.

God is always mindful of the eternal problems in our lives and wants us to keep those same things in mind.

Many don’t consider what we are moving towards until it is staring us in the face. In other words, we take an eternal issue and turn it into a short-term problem. By doing that we miss the most important thing in this life and lose out on the joy of knowing Jesus more fully today and every day.

Don’t get caught only having a short-term mindset. Add in the long-term focus right now!

As the author of Hebrews states,

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

Jesus always kept his mind on the most important thing, saving us. He faced the short-term issues head on to achieve a long term victory.

That is why Holy Week is so important for us. Every year we re-tell the story of Jesus’ gift for us. Jesus takes on our sin, nails it to the cross and leaves it there. Jesus, however, rises from the dead to show us that judgment of sin is no longer on us. There is now life after this life because the curse of sin is removed from all who trust the risen King.

Don’t only try to solve today’s problems. Remember and trust in the BIG problem Jesus solved for us because He loves us.

Besides, Jesus reminded us quite clearly about this very issue:

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Have a long-term mindset and Jesus will help you take care of the short-term details and obstacles.

God bless,
Pr. Ben