“Hold loosely to the things of the world, and hold tightly to the things of God.” That’s something my colleague William Min says.

What does he mean?

The “things of this world” are fleeting. They won’t last. If you have a house or apartment, you probably spend a lot of money on it. Me too. But we need to remember that one day, it will all be gone. The same goes for your car, smart phone, favourite piece of jewelry, and all your savings.

In contrast, the “things of God” last forever. 

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus famously says: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).

By my way of seeing things, “treasures in heaven” are all the things Jesus promotes in that very sermon. These are things like faith, mercy, standing firm, being light, loving enemies, seeking God’s kingdom first, and being wise. 

Brothers and sisters, your faith will always be with you. You will carry it into eternity. 

It’s easy to get overly-focused on the things of this world. When William says to hold on to them “loosely,” I think he’s encouraging us to remember that they don’t last. Why would we spend so much energy on prioritizing things, or basing our identity or value on things, which may actually be distracting us from our greater purpose?

When we start to think like this, it’s liberating. Stuff is expendable, but people aren’t. What others think of me fluctuates, but what God thinks of me is permanent and powerful. Achievements come and go, but the grace and truth of Jesus endures forever. 

In a society that can be so confusing and distracting, let’s hold loosely to the things of the world, and hold tightly to the things of God.

Notes:

-“What did Jesus mean when he said to store up treasures in heaven?” This is an article I wrote which was published by The Gospel Coalition Canada. Click here to read.

-The Up Devotional is published 5 days a week (Monday-Friday) and returns on March 2, 2026.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.