“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways” (Psalm 119:15).

What would you do if you were walking down the road, and all of a sudden everyone around you snapped to attention and started running after something down an adjacent street?

I’m guessing that you’d be really intrigued. I’m also guessing there would be a pretty big temptation to also run down that street to chase what everyone else was chasing, even if you didn’t know what it was.

My point is this. When other people are chasing something we can mistakenly think that it’s something worth chasing.

I live in North America. Many people seem to be basing their lives and priorities on (“chasing”) the accumulation of beauty, worldly success, power or achievement.

And since so many other people are doing that, we can adopt a kind of herd mentality and think that we should be doing that too.

In his book God Enters Stage Left, Tim Day writes: “In the end, it is not about beauty, success, power, or skill but about humility, service, compassion and love.”*

Too often I think we’re afraid of missing out on something. But some things are worth missing. Other things, however, are definitely worth seeking: humility, service, compassion and love.

When other people are chasing something we can mistakenly think that it’s something worth chasing.

What are you chasing? What do you spend your time, money and energy on? What are your real priorities? Be honest.

Don’t be duped. And don’t get lost. The Redeemer’s way is always the right way.

By Matthew Ruttan

–This Sunday, September 13, 2020 EST, I’m teaching about forging ahead when you feel like a failure. Go here for a reminder email on Sunday morning about where and how to connect and follow along.

–“Up!” is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on September 14.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.

–*Tim Day, God Enters Stage Left (Oakville: The Meeting House, 2013), 111.