Have you ever stopped to think about what people talk about when they know their time on earth is coming to an end?
I recently listened to a podcast featuring a physician who holds both an M.D. and a Ph.D. in neuroscience. Through thousands of interviews with patients receiving hospice care, he has had a unique opportunity to hear people reflect on their lives when time is precious and the things that matter most become incredibly clear.
And there was a common thread.
Overwhelmingly, people weren't talking about their accomplishments, their job titles, the money they had accumulated, the houses they owned, or the recognition they had received. They weren't measuring their lives by their resumes or their bank accounts.
They talked about relationships.
They talked about the people they loved, the people who loved them, the conversations they wished they had, the relationships they wished they had invested more time in, and the moments they shared with those closest to them.
Think about that for a moment.
When the noise of everyday life fades away, when the deadlines, responsibilities, ambitions, and distractions no longer seem so important, what remains is love. It's people. It's the relationships that shaped our lives and the lives we touched along the way.
And as Christians, I think there's an even deeper truth here: What matters most isn't just the relationships we have with people, but the eternal impact we have on their souls.
We're spending our lives on something. What is it?
It's easy to get caught up in the things that demand our attention. We work hard to build careers, provide for our families, accomplish goals, save for retirement, and create a comfortable life. None of those things are necessarily bad. In fact, many are good and important responsibilities.
But they were never meant to become the most important things.
Jesus asked a question in Mark 8:36 that puts everything into perspective: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Mark 8:36
We can spend a lifetime chasing success and still miss what matters most. We can gain recognition from the world but neglect the people God has placed right in front of us. We can fill our calendars with activities and our homes with possessions while leaving very little time for meaningful connection.
Jesus reminds us that our souls matter more than anything this world can offer.
And if our souls matter that much to God, shouldn't the souls of the people around us matter deeply to us, too?
People are not interruptions to our purpose. They are part of it.
Sometimes we get so focused on what we're trying to accomplish that we forget who we're doing life with.
The coworker who needs encouragement. The friend who could use a phone call. The family member we've been meaning to reconnect with. The neighbor who needs someone to listen. The person who doesn't know Jesus and may never hear about His love unless we take the time to share it.
These aren't interruptions to the important things in life. They ARE the important things.
God has given each of us relationships and opportunities to make an eternal difference. Sometimes that happens through a meaningful conversation about faith. Sometimes it's simply showing up, offering forgiveness, extending grace, listening without rushing, or loving someone through a difficult season.
We may never know the full impact of a kind word, a prayer, an invitation, or a relationship in which someone experiences the love of Christ.
But those things matter. Eternally.
Love is the legacy that lasts.
In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul reminds us that even the most impressive gifts, accomplishments, and abilities mean very little without love.
Verse 13 says: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)
Think about that. Faith, hope, and love remain. The things we spend so much time accumulating in this life won't go with us. But the love we give, the faith we share, and the lives we influence can have an impact that reaches far beyond our years on earth.
What if we measured a successful life a little differently?
Not by how much we accomplished, but by how well we loved. Not by how many people knew our name, but by how many people knew they mattered. Not by the size of our bank account, but by the richness of our relationships. Not by the recognition we received, but by whether we helped someone discover the love of Jesus.
A question worth asking today
I don't think we need to wait until we're in a hospice room to figure out what matters most.
Maybe today is a good day to pause and ask ourselves:
- Am I giving the people I love the time and attention they deserve?
- Is there a relationship I need to repair, a forgiveness I need to offer, or a conversation I've been putting off?
- Am I so busy pursuing good things that I'm missing the people God has placed in my path?
- Who in my life needs to experience the love of Jesus through me?
We only get so many ordinary Tuesdays, family dinners, phone calls, coffee dates, and opportunities to tell someone they matter.
Let's not take them for granted.
At the end of the day, our titles won't define us. Our possessions won't comfort us. Our accomplishments won't hold our hands.
It's souls. It's relationships. It's loving God and loving people. That's what really matters.
And the beautiful thing is, we don't have to wait until the end of our lives to start living that way. We can start today.