What Is the Most Important Thing To Remember in Life?

Imuetinyan Igbinnosa
Dec 9, 2024
5 min read

What Does You Say?

As the end of every year means different things to different people, so do answers to questions like what the most important thing to remember in life is. Let us begin with Suzuki Roshi, the renowned behavioral therapist, who in his motivational speeches said, “The most important thing in life, is to remember the most important thing.” A belief Jim Kwik the brain and memory expert modified, saying, “The most important thing in life, is to keep the most important thing the most important thing.” Stephen Corey the author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, evidently agrees with the tautology and juggling of words, when he coined the famous phrase, “The main thing in life, is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Then Anthony D’Angelo entered and pushed the needle to the other end of the scale when he said, “The most important things in life, are not things.” Leaving everyone scratching their heads, at what is beginning to appear like dancing with words to create space for themselves on the high table of fame and wealth. To explain the inconsistencies, Roshi the therapist wants everyone to take a comfortable seat, and reflect on ‘Mindfulness.’ Saying that the most important thing to remember in life is mindfulness with its three elements of ‘your intention, your attention, and your attitude.’ But Kwik the expert insists that the most important things are, “Your life, your loved ones, and your lessons.” Coining his famous quotations: ‘What you appreciate, appreciates: And doing the same things and expecting a different result, is insanity.’ Despite the pinch of insult, even a child will agree that a person’s life and loved ones are important things to remember! But are they?1

Famous philosophers like Socrates the Greek, strongly believed that the cultivation of virtue or moral excellence is the most important pursuit in life, because it leads to happiness. Dr. Happy seems to agree when he said, “Knowing what we should do to live happier and better lives, meaning know your purpose in life, is the most important thing.” But Lisa Fazio the memory research scientist, argues that it is events like ‘getting married and college graduations,’ that are the kinds of things people deem to be important in life.2 In her study with the dying, Megan Shen the social psychologist reports that “Spending time with loved ones, loving those around us, enjoying ourselves, and investing in others” are the most meaningful ways to spend our very limited time on this earth. Exactly what answers like ‘enjoying ourselves’ mean to especially youths, are gaps populations are interpreting in diverse ways across the world.3

Transnational development surveys report an array of answers to the same question. ‘Everything is temporal,’ ‘Where you come from,’ ‘Live for the moment,’ ‘To say, I do not know,’ ‘Life is short,’ ‘Love,’ and ‘We can all make an impact.’ Others say the answer is, ‘family, health, friends, work, love, purpose, passion, wellness, education, values, honesty, integrity, fairness, and happiness.’ The list continues until one group of female respondents said the most important thing to remember in life is a man’s buttocks. Attempting to make sense of the confusion in the world: The acclaimed historian, W.E.B. DuBois famously said, “The most important thing to remember is this: To be ready at any moment to give up what you are, for what you might become.” Roshi the therapist was more direct, “The answer lies in listening to yourself until you hear your mind yelling and your heart whispering: Then, trust yourself to generate your own higher truth.” The fun of ‘agreeing to disagree,’ resulting from generating own or group higher truths, is fast becoming a serious contributing factor behind widening global conflicts and insecurity. The growing army of unhappy people giving up what they are for what they might become, but are not, is evidence that the wisdom of the world is puzzling prepositions bordering on the preposterous. For example, take the many people across the world redefining their natural male and female identities, with a growing list of abnormal gender identities like transgender, gender-neutral, non-binary, pangender, and others: Or, the many others pursuing the goal of redefining their essential identities, to become like someone wealthy or famous in society they admire. No doubt, the world has since fallen into the pit of moral decadence, as it rapidly approaches another catastrophic global war. As Scripture says, “The blind lead the blind, they all fall into the pit.”4 Reversing widening global decay and insecurity caused by underlying motivational, scientific, philosophical, and developmental attempts to provide answers or solutions to problems, requires involving the most important Person in the universe the present world ignores.

What Does God Say?

We live in a world today that teaches its inhabitants to reject God and His guiding laws for truly sustainable global development. As God said, “It is I who created the world. But it is Me, humanity rejects.” Yet, on the question of what is the most important thing to remember in life, God Almighty has been speaking at various times. Hear: “Remember the Sabbath Day to reverence it.” Why? So, no human forgets His marvelous works and His capabilities seen in the heavens and earth God created. “Remember your Creator before the end comes.” Why? So, no one forgets that there is no other God except Him.7 “Remember the covenants and words I speak.” Why? So, you do not forget that God’s words are powerful and last forever: Unlike the words of all the others that are temporal, and powerless to save a dying world. “Remember what I did to Pharoah.” Why? So, you do not fear devils behind empty quotations and findings that teach this troubled world to ignore God: So also, you remember the deep love of God, who alone can save the world from its cunning and violent enemies: And has given you the authority to cast out devils with His powerful words. “Remember the Lord God, for it is He who gives you strength to obtain wealth.” Why? So, no one forgets to support the poor among you. “Remember that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.” Why? So, you obtain salvation with eternal glory awaiting everyone who will only believe what Christ did to save sinners.5 Pause!

Do a comparative analysis, and you will also conclude that the wisdom of the world is not interested in the public good but in personal wealth and fame. But the Wisdom of God seeks public good, to save and heal this troubled world so all of us enjoy abundant life. What a difference! Realize also that, God has been answering this same question through the ages. Hear Him, “The most important thing to remember is that Jesus Christ is coming again soon, to reward everyone according to their works.” Why? So, “Remember from where you have fallen, and repent:”6 And start following all God has been saying through the ages to remember. God’s clear intent is for everyone to escape eternal torment in hell, and have eternal life. Nothing else is more important.