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<p>&quot;Only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is <em>better</em>.&quot; Luke 10:42<br />
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Paul prayed that his friends &quot;may be able to discern what is <strong>best</strong>.&quot; Philippians 1:10.<br />
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We must be always making <em>choices </em>in this world. We cannot take up <em>everything </em>that lies in our path — and we ought to choose the <em>best </em>things. Even among 'right things' there is room for choice, for some right things are <em>better </em>than others. <br />
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There are many Christians, however, who do not habitually choose the <em>best </em>things — but <strong>second-rate things</strong>. They labour for the food that perishes — when they might labour for the food that endures unto everlasting life. Even in their prayers, they ask for <em>temporal </em>blessings, when they might ask for spiritual treasures! <br />
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They are like &quot;<strong>the man with the muck-rake</strong>&quot;, in Bunyan's <em>'Pilgrim's Progress'</em> — who only looks 'down' and drags his rake among the <em>weeds </em>and <em>worthless rubbish</em> — while over his head are crowns which he might take into his hands! They are like <em>Esau</em>, who sold his <em>valuable birthright</em>, for some lentil stew. They toil for this <em>world's vain things</em> — when they might have been laying up <em>treasures in heaven!</em><br />
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We only have one life to live — and we ought therefore to do the <em>best </em>we possibly can with it. We pass through this world only once — and we ought to gather up and take with us the things that will truly enrich us — things we can keep forever!<br />
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It is not worth our while, to toil and moil, and strive and struggle — to do things that will leave no lasting results when our life is done — while there are things we can do which have eternal significance!<br />
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&quot;Set your <em>hearts </em>on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your <em>minds </em>on things above, not on earthly things!&quot; Colossians 3:1-2