Priorities

Stephen Covey is “an internationally respected leadership authority, family expert, teacher, organizational consultant and author… of the international bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, named the #1 Most Influential Business Book of the Twentieth Century” (http://www.stephencovey.com/). Although I’ve not read any of his books, some key questions about the priorities of our lives from his book, First Things First were highlighted in a sermon by Dr. David Jeremiah. First, what is the one activity that I know if I did superbly well and consistently would have significant positive results in my personal/professional life? Second, what is the one activity that I know if I did superbly well and consistently would have significant positive results on the people around me? Third, if I know what it is, why am I not doing it?

For me, the answer to the last question is, “Because life gets in the way.” Don’t you find that to be true? We know what we should be doing to make our lives different and more effective for God’s kingdom, but it seems like our days are filled with events that scream for our attention and leave little time and energy to concentrate on the things that matter.

God is doing some good things in our lives, even when it’s difficult to see His hand at work. He has promised we can have through Jesus, “life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). I want to prioritize my life to have life to the full. Even at its full, though, this life is “but a poor reflection as in a mirror” (1 Corinthians 13:12) in this far country, and the fatigue and frustration it sometimes brings should direct the eyes of our hearts to the satisfaction and fulfillment we will find when we’re home.