Priorities

5-19-2009

If we measured our priorities by looking at what we spend our time doing, what would be your first priority? For example, if you spend the majority of the day at work, then priority number 1 would be work. If you spend the next greatest amount of time watching television, then that would be your second priority in life. A chart may look like this:

8 hours=work
8 hours=sleeping
2 hours=driving
2 hours=watching television
1 hour=working out
1 hour= playing with kids
1 hour=eating
1 hour=showering, restroom, etc.
24 Hours Total

Think about this graphic above, and then honestly write down where you’re spending your time. In Philippians 3:8 Paul says, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ.” In other words, nothing matters without knowing Christ. You can have everything, but if you do not know Christ, you have nothing. In order to have an intimate relationship with Christ, it takes prioritizing Christ for you and your family. You must MAKE time for him, your wife, significant other, family, and friends. Most people spend all of their left over time with the people they love the most. It doesn’t have to be this way.

We are all extremely busy people, so let me give you some creative ways to make time for Christ. First, I listen to biblical messages while in the car, and I listen to Christian music. I will be the first one to tell you that I feel some Christian music is BAD, so I’ll change the station every once in a while or make a phone call! However, there is a lot of great Christian music as well! Second, I run on the treadmill everyday for about 36 minutes. I spend this time in prayer. This gives me 36 minutes without interruptions to converse with God. Let’s face it, I’m not going anywhere J, and it helps the time fly. These are just a couple of ideas to add God to the schedule while doing other things. The key point here is to make time to grow in your relationship with Christ. It’s like anything else in life; you will get out of it what you put into it.

Application:
1. Read Philippians 3:1-11
2. Write down your “priority schedule” as it relates to time spent. What changes need to occur?