Website owner:  James Miller

The most important things in life

   What are the most important things in life?  There is a Russian 
   proverb that names them:  a good wife, good health and a bowl 
   of soup. 

   Why is a good wife one of the most important things in life?  
   Suppose we were going to make a long journey of a thousand 
   miles and we were going by foot.  A good comfortable pair of 
   shoes would be important on such a trip wouldn't they?  For the 
   same reason a good wife is important on the trip through life.  
   Going through life with a bad wife would be like walking a 
   distance of a thousand miles with badly fitting shoes that 
   pinched the feet.  The foot sores would torment us without end.  

   Why is good health one of the most important things in life?  
   We can use the same example as we used for the wife.  Going 
   through life with poor health would be like going on a journey 
   of a thousand miles with shoes that pinched the feet.  Shoes 
   that pinched the feet would be the source of endless misery and 
   affliction on such a trip.  In the same way poor health can be 
   a source of endless pain and suffering

   I think of yet another important thing in life, something even 
   more important than the above.  It is this: love of God and 
   obedience to him; a life of faith, a personal relationship with 
   God achieved by renouncing the way of sin and evil, turning to 
   God, and following in his ways i.e. becoming a Christian and 
   following in the ways taught to us by Jesus. 

   What are the most important things in life?  I would list them as:

    1. A good spouse   
    2. Good health (physical and mental)   
    3. The essentials of life (food, shelter and clothing). 
    4. Understanding. Understanding of ourselves, others and life.
    5. Knowing God and following in his way.  Spiritual 
        understanding.



   July 1992