It seems that my life is often dominated by the broken promises of “More.”
I have promised to write more letters, visit more friends, smile at more children. I have purposed in my heart to give more money away and to spend more time at home. Yet most, if not all of these desires are waylaid by the tyranny of the urgent. The important things in life are supplanted by the urgent things. The pressing demands of time and energy and resources draw away from the things that should get my attention.
This is a clarion call to filter out urgent projects, deadlines, and phone messages. They must be put in proper perspective with what really matters in this life. Sometimes the important things are quite small and seemingly insignificant. Because Jean-Claude Killy, the world-famous skier, was three-tenths of a second faster than his closest competitor, he earned $3 million instead of having to settle for being a $10,000-a-year ski instructor.
Some might think that busyness is a sign of godliness. I contend that busyness is a sin unless it is involved in the important things of this life and eternity. Like it or not, endurance is a hallmark of the faith.
1 Cor. 13 tells us this: “And now abideth faith, hope, love.” This verse forces some questions in my mind. What really lasts? Which of our efforts will have impact beyond this empty world? Why do we spend so much time and invest so much in that which does not last? What the world calls important — money, power, and pleasure Christianity calls a sham.
Rather than a constant spin cycle, our lives should be lived with focus and perseverance.
Perhaps today I will live not with more, but with less.
Care to comment? How are you doing with “more”?
Please, share with a friend if you feel moved.
Read all past issues at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davidrupert
Read all past issues at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davidrupert
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