One More Thing

Recently a friend of mine sent me a wonderful thought taken from Stephen Covey’s book, "First Things First": One day, an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and, to drive home a point, 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 quiz." Then he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen fist-sized rocks and 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?" Everyone in the class said, "Yes." Then he said, "Really?" He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. Then he dumped some gravel in and shook the jar causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. Then he asked the group once more, "Is the jar full?" By this time the class was on to him. "Probably not," one of them answered. "Good" he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. 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. 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. Then 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 speaker replied, "that's not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is if you don't put the big rocks in first, you'll never get them in at all. What are the 'big rocks' in your life? Your children; your loved ones; your education; your dreams; A worthy cause; Teaching or mentoring others; Doing things that you love; Time for yourself; your health; your significant other. Remember to put these BIG ROCKS in first or you'll never get them in at all. If you sweat the little stuff (the gravel, the sand) then you'll fill your life with little things you worry about that don't really matter, and you'll never have the real quality time you need to spend on the big, important stuff (the big rocks)." The more I have reflected on this little story, the more I have come to realize how easy it is to try to fit “one more thing” into my schedule. And, much of the time the most important things get crowded out. The Wisdom of Solomon helps us with beginning at the beginning: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV) Let me make two practical suggestions for setting priorities – for discovering and putting in the big rocks first. First, right priorities begin with faith in God. To receive God’s guidance we must “acknowledge” Him in all our ways. This means turning every area of life over to him. Look at your values and priorities. What is important to you? In what areas have you not acknowledged him? What is his advice? In many areas of your life you may already acknowledge God, but it is the areas where you attempt to restrict or ignore his influence that will cause you grief. Acknowledge him a vital part of everything you do; then he will guide you because you will be working to accomplish his purposes. Second, right priorities grow out of obedience to Christ. Even when it’s difficult, be obedient to those things that God has already told you. Other instruction will follow, but only after we have been faithful to that which He has already given us to do. What are the “big rocks” you need to put in first today?