What Are You Building For?
Devotional week 43
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19–21 NIV
During one of our office morning prayers, I joined virtually as we discussed a question from the devotional we were reading: What keeps your hope in God alive when you face adversity?
We took turns sharing our thoughts. One response stayed with me. A colleague explained that her hope was anchored in the knowledge that there is eternity beyond this life. She did not want to hold too tightly to life here on earth because she looked forward to what God had prepared beyond it.
Her answer made me pause and consider my own hopes and ambitions.
What am I building for?
It is easy to become absorbed in the demands of everyday life. We work towards career goals, build businesses, pursue opportunities and hope to make a meaningful difference. These are not wrong pursuits. Our work matters, as it is ministry to God and to others.
In Matthew 6:19–21, Jesus teaches that we should store up treasures in heaven rather than make earthly treasures our ultimate pursuit. He reminds us that where our treasure is, our hearts will be also. This does not mean that our work, ambitions or achievements have little value. Rather, the hope of eternity gives them a deeper purpose. Whether we lead a team, manage a business, teach students, care for a family or carry out tasks that few people notice, we can do our work as service to Him.
In 1 Corinthians 3:10–15, Paul describes work that will be tested, drawing attention to the foundation on which we build and the quality of what we build upon it. This invites us to think beyond visible results. Are we working with integrity? Do we treat people with dignity? Are we faithful with the responsibilities entrusted to us, even when no one is watching or applauding?
These questions matter because our work is about more than earning a living or reaching the next milestone. It is part of how we live out our faith.
My colleague’s response reminded me that eternity should shape how I live today. I want to pursue my responsibilities with diligence and use my opportunities well, while remembering that my ultimate hope is in God. I want the work I do, the people I serve and the decisions I make to reflect the One I serve.
We may not always see the full results of our efforts. Some projects will end, some achievements will be forgotten, and some work may never receive recognition. Yet we can remain faithful, knowing that our work is not separate from our walk with God.
So, as we build our careers, businesses, relationships and lives, it is worth asking: Am I building only for what I hope to achieve here, or am I building in a way that honours God and reflects the hope of eternity?
Challenge
How does the hope of eternity influence the way you approach your work? What could it change about the way you serve, make decisions or treat the people around you?
Prayer
Lord, help me to see my work as an opportunity to serve You. Give me diligence in my responsibilities, integrity in my decisions and love for the people I encounter. Keep my ambitions in their proper place, and teach me to build a life that honours You, with my hope fixed on eternity. Amen.
A Tent International Devotional