What is Important

…death is the destiny of every man.

Ecclesiastes 7:2

I woke this morning to the news that Steve Jobs, founder of Apple Computer, had died.  His death was not a total surprise, as he has been battling severe illness for years.  A more determined man rarely walked this earth, however, and he only resigned his active leadership of the company six weeks ago.  Jobs was a man of great creativity and vision – seeing clearly far beyond his own time, always looking to technology’s future.

In the commencement address to the graduating class of Stanford University in 2005, Jobs made this insightful observance:

"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life," he said. "Because almost everything - all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important."

You and I may not be facing the imminence of our death this morning, but I hope we have the same clarity of vision about what is truly important in this life.  Money, ambition, power, pride – all are truly worthless in the eternal scheme of life.  Relationships are what life is all about – with friends, with family, and with our God.