But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
MATTHEW 6:33
What Comes 1st In Your Life?
*****
ARGE ROCKS - SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and to drive home an important point he used an illustration those students will never forget.
As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers, he said, "Okay, time for a pop quiz" and he then pulled out a one gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him.
He also produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and very
carefully placed them one at a time into the jar. When the
jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would fit inside,
he asked, "Is this jar full?"
Every student in the class yelled out, "YES!" The time
management professor and expert replied, "Is It Really?"
Then he reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel.
He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces
of gravel to work themselves down into the spaces between
the larger rocks. He then asked the group once more,
"Is the jar full?"
THE BEGINNING OF UNDERSTANDING
By this time the class was on to him and someone answered, "Probably Not!" "Good" he replied as he reached under
the table and brought out a bucket of sand.
As he started dumping the sand it went into all of the
empty spaces left between the large rocks and the gravel.
Once more he asked the students, "Is this jar full?"
"NO" the class shouted. Once again he said, "Good!"
He started dumping the sand in the jar and it went into all of the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel.
Once more he asked the question, "Is this Jar full??"
"No!" the class shouted. And, once again he said, "Good."
Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Once more he looked at the class and asked, "What is the point of this illustration?"
One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "The point is no matter how full your schedule is if you try really hard you
can always fit some more things in it!" "NO" the professor replied, "that's not the point!"
The truth that this illustration teaches us is, "If you don't put the large rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all!"
YOUR LARGE ROCKS
So, what are the "large rocks" in your life? Time with your loved ones, your faith, your education, your dreams, a worthy cause, teaching your children basic life skills?
There are so many things that can require time from all of us!
And as parents, we often learn to juggle and alter our daily
plans to meet the needs of that particular day.
It is just as important to remember that the "LARGE ROCKS" are the most important things that we must get done. Then need
to be first on the top of our lists or you'll find you will
never get them done.
As Christians, it is of the utmost importance to make time for
Christ Jesus in our lives! We absolutely need time for
Bible reading and prayer!
I can remember the long days of getting my children up and ready for school, cleaning the house, washing clothes, helping with homework, feeding and walking the dogs, having dinner
ready for when my husband got home from work and
many other miniscule duties.
Still, the most important things like sitting down and talking with my children, telling them how much I loved them and spending the evening with them in small devotions at night
"were at time lost" simply because I had not focused on
planning my day out!
Like so many of you, I found it hard to say "NO" to friends or things that could have been accomplished another day!
So, tonight or in the morning as you are reflecting upon this particular blog, take a moment and ask yourself: "What exactly are the larger rocks in my life? Then put those in your
"Jar of Life" first and foremost!
It may take some time at first, or there may be days when an emergency pops up, just do your best knowing that you are
trying! God understands exactly what our hearts are
calling us to do!
God bless you as you strive to walk the journey God has
planned for you.
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