October 20, 2018

Priorities

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. – Psalm 90:12

A month ago, their priorities were different. We live in a world filled with college football and lazy days at the beach. Our lives revolve around high school sports and band, little league and soccer and dance. Work and errands and the daily busyness of life rush us along at a rapid pace.

And then the unthinkable happens and our priorities shift forever. It could be a death. It could be a job loss. It could be a major hurricane that destroys your world. And suddenly what you thought was important turns out to be unimportant after all.

We are a people who like to complain about what we don’t have. We are goal-oriented folks who are always striving for the next achievement, the next possession, the next thing we think will make us happy. We’re so focused on future possibilities that we miss today’s blessings.

Oh, we’ve always heard people tell us that. “Stop and smell the roses,” they say. “Count your blessings,” others add. We know it’s all true but we don’t actually do any of it. Until we’ve got nothing left.

Today someone’s priority was finding a place to live. Another person’s priority was diapers for their baby or how their child will get an education when all the schools are destroyed. Another person wonders how he’ll survive without his spouse. One person struggles to find a job, any job, just to keep a roof over his family’s head and food on the table.

Priorities. It all depends on where you’re at in any given moment.

One woman complained that her husband’s business was down and she just didn’t know how they were going to afford things. Really? It’s difficult to have sympathy for someone who lives in an affluent neighborhood, always drives a new car, eats out several times a week and doesn’t work. Her priority is maintaining her lifestyle. She’s never done without, she’s never truly suffered, so her priorities are different from those who have known those things.

There’s a good side to horrible things. Your priorities shift and you come to understand what really matters. Do you remember how Jesus told Martha, who was bustling around preparing a meal, that Mary knew what was really important? Why don’t we realize He was talking to us too?

Spending time with God each day should be our priority. It’s the most important time of our day. And, yet, we act as though everything else is more important.

We always plan to spend more time with people we love. We vow to volunteer one day. Maybe we’ve got a list of things we’d like to do. One day. Why not today?

What would happen if you gave up a Saturday and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to help build a house? What would happen if you invited an elderly neighbor over to your home for a meal? What would happen if you turned off your phone and went outside and played with your kids?

Be present today. Put God first and the people He loves right after that. Take time to laugh. Be grateful for the small things. Smile often. Be kind. This world can be hard and cruel. Be the light. Show the world what really matters.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Choose What Is Best

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. -- Luke 10:39

Most of us are familiar with the story of Mary and Martha. Jesus came to Martha’s house and while she was busy preparing for all the guests, her sister Mary sat and listened to Jesus teach.

We remember that Jesus admonished Martha when she complained and ask Jesus to make Mary help her.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” -- Luke 10:41-42

So we learn that it is better to listen to Jesus than to prepare food and worry about the guests. But what else did we learn? And do we really understand how this applies to us?

A few weeks ago our church had a wonderful event on a Sunday afternoon. It was a time of fellowship. Unfortunately, it was at the same time as a women’s bible study that had been scheduled weeks earlier as part of a continuing event. Should we postpone the study? Should we have it anyway? There was quite a division.

I opted to go ahead and have the study as scheduled. Those who could and would came. And others didn’t. Their choice. One woman came but said her husband said she was selfish. For what? For choosing a bible study over listening to him play in the church band, something she does almost every Sunday morning.

Somehow we believe that choosing one church event over another means that all is good. Or one good thing over another means that we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. But we can fill our lives up with busyness and never accomplish what Jesus has called us to do.

We’re full of excuses. Absolutely. And they’re good excuses. Like having some fun in the name of fellowship rather than studying God’s Word as we’d previously committed to do. Or going to the beach for a “day off” rather than attending church. Or helping the youth with a project rather than caring for our own elderly relative. The list goes on and on.

We’re full of good intentions and excuses. But are we really doing what is best? The answer varies, of course, because what is best for one might not be best for another. What it really comes down to is seeking God in all things and putting Him first.

We prefer to think that the story of Mary and Martha has to do with sibling rivalry and preparing for guests. But it also has to do with us and the choices we make each day. Are you choosing what is best? Are you sure?

Friday, August 26, 2011

What Are Your Priorities?

But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it -- and I won’t take it away from her.” -- Luke 10:41-42

Many of us know the story of Martha and her sister Mary. Jesus was visiting and teaching. Mary was listening to Jesus. Martha was fretting over all the guests, trying to prepare a meal and take care of all the details.

Jesus gently reminded Martha that Mary understood the importance of listening to Jesus and spending time with Him. We all should learn that lesson. Life has a way of taking over and pushing God aside. At least in our thoughts. We get so stressed about what we must do that we forget what’s truly important.

We could take that a step further when it comes to taking time for people. It’s wonderful to have guests and certainly we want to prepare. But when one or two people spend all their time in the kitchen and don’t even get to visit, then something is really wrong. Maybe the cook needs to prepare something simpler and focus not on the accolades that come from presenting a large meal but on the love that comes from sharing time with people you care about.

Most people aren’t even aware of what they’re doing -- or not doing. It’s just habit. They’ve always worked for days to prepare a large meal when guests are coming. And they always saved Bible reading until everything else is done. It’s no surprise that everything else is never done and the person ends up more stressed than before.

So take a deep breath. Put God first. And relax. Laugh. Keep things simple. Enjoy the people you love while you can. And thank God that they’re in your life.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Choose God Over Distractions

"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made."

-- Luke 10:40a

Did you know your television has an OFF button? It does. And it works even when you aren't leaving the room. Same goes for your cell phone and computer. They all come with OFF buttons. Check the directions. You'll see.

Another tidbit: Doors close. I know. It's shocking. But they do. It really is okay to go into a room by yourself and close the door. It's okay to be unavailable to your spouse, kids, parents and friends for a set time. Really. They'll whine but they'll be okay.

Now, let me be clear about something. I am not telling you to leave a crying infant alone or a toddler wandering around by himself. That's child neglect and I'll be the first to call the cops. I'm simply saying that we assume we always have to be available to our loved ones. Sometimes it's okay to not be. Get your husband to take care of the kids for 30 minutes. Don't answer the phone. Shut the door. One woman told me she retreats to her walk-in closet. Just go somewhere and be alone.

The purpose of all this? To get rid of the distractions so you can focus on God. I've read this passage about Mary and Martha numerous times over the years. The focus always seems to be on a whining Martha and a Mary intent on listening to all of Jesus' words. It's easy to rush past that little sentence that tells us Martha was distracted. Aren't we all?

I've come to realize that there will always be someone or something that nags for my attention. It is so freeing to realize I can have a choice. I can choose to spend time with God. I can turn off the distractions. I can close the door. I can pay attention to God without being interrupted.

But it's a choice. That's right. A choice. I used to be one of those people who just didn't have time for serious Bible study. Me? Read the Bible from cover to cover -- every year? I thought that was insane. But I did it anyway. Now I crave it. Spending time with God keeps me sane. It keeps me focused (most of the time). It keeps my priorities straight.

It's so easy to get distracted by all the stuff that fills our lives. Take time to focus on God. He'll bless you in ways you never imagined.