“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)
I’ve started asking the Lord something specific every morning: “Open my eyes to what’s really important today.” Because if I don’t ask this, I default to my schedule. I default to the physical urgency of the day—the calls to return, the deadlines to hit, the tasks stacked up waiting for my attention. And in the middle of all that legitimate, necessary work, I can walk right past the one thing that actually matters forever.
Here’s what I mean. A client sits across from me, and she’s crying because she’s afraid and broken-hearted. My flesh wants to notice the tears, offer a tissue, and steer us back to the business at hand—because the flesh is oriented toward the physical, toward the schedule, toward getting the transaction done. But when I ask the Lord to give me His perspective—my goal shifts. I see past the fear in front of me to the soul underneath it. And in that moment I have a choice: Keep moving through my agenda, or slow down long enough to offer real compassion and let the peace from the Spirit cover her. And if she doesn’t know Jesus as Savior—share the Gospel!
This is NOT a distraction from my job—it’s the POINT of my ENTIRE existence!
Jesus asked a question that cuts straight to the heart of the matter:
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36)
Everything else we chase—money, comfort, security, reputation—it’s all temporary:
While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Souls are the only eternal currency we take with us. God’s perspective teaches us to value people the way He does. And when I ask Him to lend me His eyes each morning, I start seeing others the way He sees. A crying client isn’t an interruption to my workday.
She’s the reason I’m there!!!
This doesn’t mean I neglect my work. Paul told believers to “walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.” (Colossians 4:5)
“Redeeming the time” means recognizing that the spiritual and the physical should run concurrently, not in competition with each other. I still show up, still do good work, still meet my obligations. But I’m doing it with my eyes open to the eternal possibilities woven into the ordinary moments. Maybe it’s a struggling believer who needs someone to pray with her; or someone in pain who just needs to be asked how they’re really doing and then have someone actually listen; or—someone who has never heard the Gospel! When I slow down and offer God’s care, it’s not me being extra kind on my own strength—it’s the fruit of His Spirit working through me:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
That peace I offer a frightened client isn’t manufactured. It’s supplied by the Spirit. My job is just to slow down long enough to let it flow.
“Wisdom,” in God’s economy, is understanding that the righteousness of Christ that we receive at salvation is our prized possession which should be stewarded and invested into the only eternal resource around us—the souls of people.
God’s agenda is not an interruption; it’s our most important mission.
Prayer:
Lord, slow me down today. Before I get swept into my schedule, open my eyes to see what You see. Give me Your perspective about the people I encounter—not as tasks to complete or obstacles to my day, but as souls You love and died for. When someone is hurting in front of me, help me notice instead of rushing past. Let Your peace flow through me to the frightened and the anxious. Give me courage to speak Your name when someone doesn’t know You yet, and give me sensitivity to simply listen and comfort when that’s what’s needed. Teach me to do Your work alongside my work—make them one mission. Make my life about what actually lasts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
