New Perspective for Living

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“When I grow up, I don’t want to be a teacher!”

Public school teachers in the Philippines consider themselves less compensated despite the five-digit basic salary they are receiving every month, five-digit thirteenth-month pay, four-digit clothing allowance, four-digit chalk allowance and all other benefits they are receiving. I know for sure how much a public school teacher is earning monthly and annually because I am one. If asked if my salary is enough, I will be a hypocrite to say it is. No matter how high my salary could be, it will never be enough if I’ll use it to meet my wants more than my needs. The higher the income, the higher my wants will be. That for sure is a fact for someone whose life is geared on living only for this world.

We wake up every day and report to our individual offices for a purpose. We apply for jobs that offer financial security and stability. We work hard in order to have ourselves promoted and earn more. We look for investment and business opportunities to increase our bank savings. We push ourselves to reach beyond our limits, strive further, and go farther in our careers so we could meet not just our needs but also our wants. Those who are rich in the things of this world are being looked up, envied, and emulated. The clothes that we wear, foods we post on social media before consuming, trips we plan so well for Instagram, and savings we strive to give an increase became our source of identity. But at the end of our lives, will these be the things that really matter?

What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul (Matthew 16:26)? Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 11:4). What profit is there in our death if we go down to the pit? Will the dust praise us? Will it tell of our faithfulness? Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God (Luke 12:21).

If we focus on our wants, we will never be satisfied. The world will have a myriad of things to offer – things that we could lust on and limit our seeing. Let us count our blessings instead and thank God for everything. May we build our dependence on God for our daily needs and, in everything we do, let’s do it for the glory of God. What a wasted life to succeed on things which will not matter in the end.

Yes, I do not want to become a teacher back when I was a stubborn child. But God planted me in the field of teaching; therefore, I shall grow where He has planted me. It is my prayer every day that God will be glorified in my life. I may fail. I will never be perfect. But I will be a work in progress. Besides, the Christian life is not about perfection, but progression.

So let us heed to what Jesus has instructed us in Luke 12:15: Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.

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