I have developed a personal approach to thinking that I frequently rely on. It may be of some use to you. In situations that require decisions to be made, the question that I ask myself is “What difference will it make to me one thousand years from now?”
Now you might be thinking, “But you’ll be dead a thousand years from now”, and you would be quite correct. And that is precisely the point. Sometimes, the decisions we have to make can be easily clouded by the emotions and pressures of the moment. By asking myself, ‘ What difference will it make one thousand years from now? ‘ I have effectively been able to eliminate those parameters.
Let me give you an example. Suppose that my wife says that she wants “red curtains” in the office and that I do not like red curtains. I am faced with two options here: (1) Argue with my wife and cause some level of annoyance in the household, or (2) Ask myself, “What difference will it make one thousand years from now?”. The answer to my go-to question is simple: it won’t make any difference, so red curtains it is!
You may think that nothing will make any difference one thousand years from now, so this is rather a silly approach. I will have to disagree with you because there is a little more to my silly question than first meets the ear.
When a person becomes a Christian, they are immediately given tremendous blessings and promises. So many, in fact, that it will take a lifetime to appreciate them all. The Scriptures refer to this as our lives being built on the foundation of Jesus Christ, that is, because of all he did we can enjoy all these blessings. Paul puts it his way in I Corinthians,
I Corinthians 1:11
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. [KJV]
Once we have been given this foundation, it is up to each of us to build upon it. However, there are different categories of works that we can do to build upon this foundation.
I Corinthians 1:12
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. [KJV]
And we are told that someday all the works that we have done will be tested. The Bible says that they will be tried by fire, which means they will be tested to see if they qualify or not. Qualify for what?
I Corinthians 1:14, 15
If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.[KJV]
According to the Scriptures, if we have done work that God considers as valuable which was previously referred to as building with gold, silver, or precious stones, then we will be rewarded for that work. However, if we have done work that does not qualify, referred previously as building with wood, hay or stubble, all that work will be burned up. We will not receive reward for any of that work. However, note it says the person will still be saved for once you are born again, you cannot lose your salvation.
Perhaps now you may understand why I ask myself the question, “What difference will it make a thousand years from now?” When we face any situation in life, it may well be worthwhile to consider whether what I am about to do or say is a work that will qualify for reward or not. Am I building with gold, silver, precious stones, or am I about to build with wood, hay, or stubble? The only work that will make a difference a thousand years from now is the work that God considers to be valuable – and He tells us in the Scriptures the sort of works that we should be doing.
The next time that you are faced with a decision, a challenging situation, or a choice, you may want to stop and ask, “What difference will it make a thousand years from now?”
And, you know what, I’m actually starting to like those red curtains.