Too heavenly minded, and no earthly good.  We’ve all heard it.  It strikes fear in our hearts that we could become so interested in things that are “holy” that we will become genuine oddballs to our friends and family.  I remember the first time I heard the message that Jesus’ death on the cross was payment for our sins and that we needed to ask for His forgiveness and accept that payment for ourselves personally.  I had just graduated from high school and was looking forward to attending college in the fall.  A friend took me to church with him, a Methodist church.  The minister spoke of God’s plan for salvation.  I had never heard that before.  I had attended church and Sunday school every Sunday since I was a young child, yet I had never heard that message before.   I realized that what the minister said was true, and I wanted to do what he recommended.  But my response at the time was, “Not now.  I have too many things I want to do first.”

Seven years later I had dropped out of college and was divorced with two young children.  I was living with my folks and had become their servant.  Fortunately, a couple friends told me again about God’s love and salvation.  This time I knew I didn’t deserve his mercy, but I had nothing to lose.  After praying for his forgiveness, I discovered a new joy in my life.   It was also easier to see the traps life lays for us.  It was easier to recognize violent men.  A new sense of worth gave me hope for my future.

How many of us want to be prosperous and successful?  How many of us want to be considered wise, a source of good advice and guidance, well respected?  There is only one way to achieve that goal: a dedication to the truth and a firm foundation for our lives based on reality and truth.  God’s way is based on principles of truth.  If we focus on them and live by them, our lives will be more than we hoped.