Bonus Points

As a teacher, I have noticed something peculiar about my students. They love working for bonus points. Now that in itself isn't so strange. But what is so strange is that they will work much harder for a 5-point bonus question than for a 100-point test. The minute they get their test, many will go straight to the bonus and start working. Because bonus questions are generally more difficult, they will waste valuable time on the bonus question that they need to spend on the actual test. On my website, I have added a bonus quiz for my high school and college students. Just for taking the quiz, they receive 5 bonus points added to their next test. It is amazing how they will jump on the computer and spend 30 minutes working for 5 bonus points, but won't even spend half that amount of time studying for the 100-point chapter exam.

As Christians, are our priorities just as backwards as those of my students? Do we find ourselves working extra hard for things of this world but then barely spending any time at all on things of heaven? When was the last time we put in "overtime" to study our Bible or pray? When was the last time we turned the TV off and went out witnessing for Christ? When was the last time we set our clocks one hour earlier just so we could spend that time with God? There's nothing wrong with working hard at our careers, at our family, or even at our leisure time. But we should never do it at the expense of God's time. Why would we work so hard to get unimportant things in this world but then neglect working for the great things that are truly Eternal?

Matthew 6:19 says, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth...but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven."

Father, please forgive us when we get our priorities mixed up. Teach us to work for heaven, not for earth. In Jesus name, Amen.