Take a moment to look back on your life. Is there anyone in your past who you wish you would’ve treated better? Maybe it’s that kid who always ate lunch by himself back in elementary school. Or your high school classmate you were jealous of because she was popular and good at everything.

When I look back on my growing up years, there are definitely some things I would do differently if I had the chance. I think back to all the times I chose to do something for myself—something to improve my image, my popularity, my sense of accomplishment. Looking back, I realize what a waste of time those things were in the big scheme of things. Does it really matter now whether or not you were invited to sit at the cool kids’ table in middle school? Probably not. But I bet if you started eating lunch with the kid who always sat by himself, he’d remember it to this day.

A couple years ago, I found myself thinking about someone I should have been a better friend to. I even thought about giving him a call or sending him a message on Facebook, but I didn’t.

Last week, I attended his funeral back in my hometown.

I was happy to hear that he had found Jesus, and it sounded like he was doing pretty well in life. And—best of all—now he’s with the Lord, where we’re told,  “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

I encourage you to spend your time in a way that will count the most for eternity. Who do you know who could use some encouragement? Who could you share Christ with today? Just do it—you won’t regret it if you do.

1 John 3:17-18
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.