“About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: ‘This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.’” (2 Kings 20:1 NLT)

Over the years, I’ve done a lot of funerals and memorial services. I’ve also visited people who were at death’s door. I can tell you that when life comes to an end, there are three things that really matter: faith, family, and friends.

Of number one importance is your faith, your relationship with God. I’ve heard countless people say with deep regret, “I wish I’d spent more time walking closely with God. I wish I’d made more time for spiritual things.” They recognize that they will have to stand before God Almighty and answer for the choices they made and the things they prioritized. How sad it is when people realize that they have squandered their lives.

The second-most important priority is your family. It’s a hard thing to get to the end of your life and say, “I wish I’d been a better father” or “I wish I’d been a better mother.” You won’t be concerned about how much money you made or how many possessions you ended up with. You won’t care whether you spent enough time at the office or whether you got enough promotions. Neither your financial portfolio nor your résumé will transfer to Heaven. What matters is the people you leave behind—your spouse, kids, siblings. What matters is whether you fulfilled your God-given responsibilities to them. Whether you gave them the choicest morsels of your time and attention. Whether you live in a way that will inspire, encourage, and guide them when you’re gone.

The third-most important priority is friends. Hebrews 10:24 says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (NLT). The Lord surrounds us with people not just so they can keep us company. Every relationship gives us an opportunity to lift someone up, to be a source of motivation and encouragement, to help that person reach their God-given potential. Realizing at the end of life that we squandered such a precious opportunity is a bitter pill to swallow.

When King Hezekiah was close to death, the prophet Isaiah told him, “Set your affairs in order” (2 Kings 20:1 NLT). In other words, prioritize the things that are truly important. His words should resonate with all of God’s people. The reality is that none of us knows for sure how much longer we have to live. But we know what our priorities must be. And as long as we draw breath, we have the opportunity to live those priorities, to pour ourselves into our faith, family, and friends. To make a genuine difference in those areas so that we have no regrets when we find ourselves in King Hezekiah’s position.

Are your affairs in order today?

Reflection question: What would setting your affairs in order look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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