Some years ago a headline told of three hundred whales that suddenly died. The whales were pursuing sardines and found themselves marooned in a bay. Frederick Broan Harris commented, “The small fish lured the sea giants to their death. They came to their violent demise by chasing small ends, by prostituting vast powers for insignificant goals.”²

How often in life “little things” can seem so insignificant. For instance, the kid who smokes his first cigarette probably reasons with himself, “One smoke will not hurt,” never dreaming he would get addicted to nicotine. The same is true of the alcoholic and the drug addict. One drink will never hurt, or one drug will never hurt, never dreaming that they would end up as hopeless addicts.

Then there are those of us who pride ourselves that we are not addicted to any substance, but allow our lives to be consumed by so many little things that are harmless in and of themselves but take us away from God’s purpose for our life.

All too often even good things become the enemy of the best in that they hinder or stop our becoming all that God has envisioned for us.

May we so live that in the end when we meet God face to face we will have no regrets but hear his welcoming words, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord.” How we live today will determine what that outcome will be.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please give me the good sense to know that my life here is just a journey and a preparation for eternity. Help me to know what your purpose for my life is and so live that I will have no regrets when I am called home, but will hear your words, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus’ name, amen.”