Every day, we all start with a clean slate – 24 new, shiny hours to fill as we see fit.  So, do you spend those hours building lasting relationships with family and friends?  Or do you spend them in the pursuit of meaningless endeavors?  When it is all said and done, the phrase “you can’t take it with you” applies to everyone—no exceptions.  But, what you can do is leave a lasting legacy of faith, hope, and love.

So, here are 7 things in life that don’t really matter:

1. Sports Results:  Competitive sports are great.  They provide hours of entertainment and fellowship.  They can unite a family, friends, or even a city around a common goal—to win the big game!  However, when the buzzer sounds or the clock runs out, it was just that—a game.   Keep it in perspective.

2. Unrealistic Expectations:  Don’t let your joy be robbed by others’ unrealistic expectations of you—or your own expectations for yourself.  Life is too short to feel like a perpetual failure.  Find your own unique purpose for your life and do the best you can.

3. Destructive Emotions:  Asking for forgiveness when you’ve wronged someone is important. Granting forgiveness when someone has hurt you is just as important.  If someone has caused pain or heartache in your life, you are only hurting yourself by letting anger, resentment, or bitterness remain in your heart.  Let it go and move on with your life.

4. Vanity:  We live in an air-brushed world.  And, it can cause us to be obsessed with how we look, feel, or measure up to others.  Remember, your value is in who you are, not in how you look or what you do. You were created exclusively by God and for God. You are handmade, custom-designed, and fully loaded by God.

5. Technology:  Modern conveniences can be wonderful things.  The Internet helps businesses flourish.  Cell phones provide a new level of safety by never being out of touch.  While technology can be a positive in our lives, remember the significance of a face-to-face meeting or enjoying an entire dinner without texting.  Nothing is more important than our personal relationships.

6. Wealth:  The love of money is the root of all evil.  Having money in and of itself is not evil; the love of money is.  How you acquire it and what you do with it may be planting unwanted weeds—greed, excess, jealousy—that need to be pulled out by their roots.  Living comfortably is a blessing. Being obsessed with wealth is a curse.

7. False Idols:  Fame, fortune, power, and pleasure don’t really matter in the end. They are just false idols that we pursue because we think they’ll make us happy. But our real joy and satisfaction can only be found in God.

Which of these 7 areas is most difficult for you? How do you keep that area of your life in check? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas in the comment section below.