
A professor stood before his class with some items on a table in front of him. When the class began and without him saying a word, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full and they agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of small pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly and of course the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students once again, if the jar was full. Once more, they agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous, "Yes!"
"Now," said the professor, "I want you to see that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things, your family, your spouse, your health and your children, things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full."
He continued, "The pebbles are the other things that matter - like your job, your house and your car. And the sand is everything else... the small stuff!"
"However, if you put the sand into the jar first," he went on to say, "there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for you life! If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you."
Without pausing the professor went on, "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness, such as, playing with your children or continuing to have dates with your spouse. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, have dinner with friends or fix the disposal."
He ended with this statement, "You must be sure to take care of the rocks first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities... because, the rest is just sand!!"
While the professor gave an excellent object lesson, I find that he left out the most important part of his counsel. Sadly, this world and our educators presume that we can run our own lives, and they totally leave out God and how He is to be our foundation! So, I will ask you, "What is holding the rocks, the pebbles and the sand together?"
I would add that it is the mayonnaise jar which symbolizes God to me, for without the jar, nothing would be held together, the rocks, the pebbles and the sand would be scattered and disorganized. If we don't have a strong foundation on which we draw truth, honor and integrity, our lives will fall to pieces.
The foundation of our lives must be built upon Jesus Christ, who is the chief cornerstone, that brings our lives together with God. God's people are set apart for the Lord, we can no longer be driven by the things of this world, but rather should be aligned with God's Kingdom.
What or Who is your Foundations today?