The Power Of Choice Part 4

We often say: “I wish I had more time to do something but I just don’t have enough time.” if Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. He’ll make you busy doing things that may not really matter. We all have time for what we choose to have time for. Urgent things are not always important, there is a difference. “If you choose what is important, you won’t deal with as many things that are urgent.” If you’re only choosing that which is urgent, then you will not have time to do what is truly important.

Luke 10:38-42, “38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”” (NIV)

Martha surrendered to the urgent. Mary chose what was important. Listen, if we’re not intentional on changing, the URGENT will crowd out the IMPORTANT and this happens all the time. We have a choice. We make choices. We have time for what we choose to have time for. That’s why with the help of God, we will choose that which is important over that which is urgent.

THREE PRACTICAL THOUGHTS TO CHOOSE WHAT IS IMPORTANT:

1.DON’T WORRY ABOUT MANY THINGS

Luke 10:41 – ““Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things.”” (NIV) Tell the person beside you, “Don’t worry, be happy.” Worry does not come from God. 2 Timothy 1:7 said, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline (NIV).” God keeps on telling us in the Bible not to worry, not to be anxious. Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (NIV).” Instead of worrying, we have to have self-discipline.

2. SELECT YOUR YESes

Luke 10:42a – “but FEW things are needed…” (NIV) Jesus said, “Few things are needed.” One of the reasons why we have many things at hand is because we can’t say NO to others. Be incredibly careful and prayerful about what you say YES to. The barrier to a meaningful life is NOT a LACK of COMMITMENT, but OVERCOMMITMENT. You’re doing way, way, way too much. Understand this: Busyness does not necessarily equal productivity. Busyness does not necessarily equal fulfillment in life. In fact, most people instead of adding to your TO-DO list, you should start a TO-DON’T list. Say NO to GOOD opportunities all the time so you can say YES to the BEST. No to the good, yes to the best. Learn to delegate some responsibilities. The best leaders do not do more, the best leaders do more of what matters most. If you want to have a more meaningful life, I would encourage you, say NO to MORE and YES to what matters MOST.

3. DO FIRST WHAT MATTERS MOST

Luke 10:42b – “…or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (NIV) We’re going to do first what matters most. Whatever matters most, we do first. In fact, if we can go to Luke’s text as he’s talking about Mary and Martha. If we’re going to give the purest interpretation of this, what matters? Time with Jesus matters. Mary has chosen what is better, time at the feet of the master and it will not be taken away from her. There are those of you who are followers of Jesus and let me tell you what you’re NOT doing right now: You’re not aligning your heart toward His kingdom every single day. You are NOT seeking him first in the morning. You’re NOT letting his word be a regular part of your life. I know human nature and that is we add more and more things on the outside and we forget about the most important thing on the inside. We want to make a difference but we don’t seek him first in the morning.

Why? Because you’re tired. Why are you tired? Because you’re busy. Why are you busy? Because you said YES to so many things and the things that you want to do you end up setting aside until only if you have extra time. This is why we do first what matters most.

If I could just make the strongest argument I can, the most important thing we put first is TIME WITH JESUS, the first part of every single day. We don’t need to be legalistic saying, “My pastor says I’ve got to do my devotion time.” No, it’s because I need to choose Jesus everyday. I need Him everyday. I need to tell Him everyday I need your word to renew my mind, I need to realign my heart with Your priorities. I’m going to seek you first. Matthew 6:33, Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (NIV).

The problem with us is we’re all seeking everything else first and wondering why we don’t have a life that matters. We should seek Him first. You know the secret? Priority should be on the calendar first. I’m not going to respond to what everyone else Page 5 of 6 wants me to do until I’ve first done what God wants me to do. Those priorities go on the calendar first. The problem is too many of us are reactive – Yes I can do, yes I can do, yes I can do. No, you put your priorities down first then you pursue them.

You can make EXCUSES or you can make PROGRESS, you cannot make both. If you choose that which is most important, then there will be less urgent things.