Urgent is not necessarily important

Okay this blog is inspired by Stephen Covey's book "First things first" so although not my idea, the principle has been a great guidance for my life. I have had one of those weeks where my long list of things to do has gotten longer daily. The peak came yesterday when the foul smell of a dead animal permeated through the church building. With Sunday coming and no one else around I began the search. Gloves on my hands and a dust mask on my face I opened up the ceiling and tore into walls, all the while thinking, "I shouldn't have to do this, I don't have time for this" Time is always an issue for most people. We seem to run out of it and when we look back and we can't figure out where the week went. But if you take a real-time inventory of your daily life you will find it filled with things that are urgent but not important.

Most people use this approach to life; do all the little menial tasks and get them out of the way, then you can concentrate on the big important stuff. Bad idea, because the little menial tasks never end and we end up spending our lives in the conquest of the unimportant. Try this approach; do the important things first. Pray first not last. Study for your Sunday School class early in the week not on Saturday night. Play catch with your son, you can work on the yard later. Life is full of little tasks that seem to scream to us, "hey, I need you to take care of me now" but most of those little tasks don't better our lives at all and we wouldn't suffer one bit if they were ignored. So do the important things first and when your done, then you can tackle that little to do list.

Mary and Martha were hosting Jesus at their home. Martha was busy with the little tasks that seemed to be urgent, while Mary just sat at Jesus' feet taking in all that He said. Martha was upset with Mary but Jesus corrected her, "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." It was good for Martha to work for the Lord but it would have been better to have spent some time first at His feet. Mary wasn't lazy, she had her priorities in order putting what was important first. (Luke 10:38-42)

So figure out what is truly important and do it first, you'll have a better more productive life.
Yes, I did find the dead raccoon and he was delicious. (just kidding)

Politics and our dependence on Government

If you have a television you have no doubt been bombarded by mixed messages from both sides of the political aisle. The efforts to get your attention will only intensify as November gets closer. It's gonna get ugly. I do my best to keep my politics out of the pulpit but there are times when it is necessary to speak up when political movements are contrary to God's word. No matter what political party you are with, we must remember to keep God's word; period. With this in mind, I want to address a movement that concerns me. It is the notion that the government is going to and should take care of your basic necessities. I am finding more and more people who feel that they have a right to the basics whether they work or not. Let me put politics aside and go to the word of God.

Proverbs 6:6-11
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

This scripture obviously shows a cause and effect. That if you work hard and make good decisions you will be rewarded, if you don't you will suffer poverty.

2 Thess. 3:10
For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

Once again the bible teaches hard work as the avenue for provision and no work as the avenue to hunger.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

This is where we really must understand God's plan for our provision. Government is not our source, God is. God demands that we trust Him for our food, rent, shelter etc. When we learn to depend on other sources we have made those sources idols. They have taken a place in our life that belongs to God alone. We must also understand that God intends for all of us to be hard workers. God is our provider, it isn't that we must trust in the work of our own hands but that working hard puts us in a position to receive God's provision. Picture a single mother cooking dinner after a long day at work. She is in a position to receive God's provision. Picture a husband getting up and going to a job that is hard. He has put himself in a position to receive God's provision. Now picture a man asleep on the couch when he should be working or looking for work. He has put himself in a position to receive poverty.

No doubt there are times when we need help and there are those who are in a permanent position of disadvantage and need help. The church should be the first to do it's part, but most of us are able to work.

So get up children of God. Uncle Sam is not your provider, Father God is. Do what He says and trust Him for your needs. Quit depending on government to take care of you and learn to depend on God. Put yourself in a position to receive what he has for you and watch as God provides for each your needs.