Priorities

FBC Family,

I told Maxi that I was preaching on priorities this week and she said- I have an illustration about that I use to use in Children’s church - Without a word, she emptied a large jar of mayonnaise into the garbage can and proceeded to fill the empty jar with rocks right to the top, rocks about 2″ diameter, then asked me if the jar was full. I agreed that it was.

She then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them in to the jar. She shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks. She asked me if the jar was now full. I agreed that, yes, it was.

She then poured a bag of sand into the jar with the result that the sand filled up the remaining spaces between the rocks and pebbles.

I said what in the world are you doing here. - she said, “I want you to recognize that this is your life.

The rocks are the important things – your wife who loves you, your health, your daughter, your brother, the church – anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be devastated.

The pebbles are the other things in life that matter, but on a smaller scale. The pebbles represent things like your house your truck.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff. Your tools, your laptop, your books.

If you put the sand or the pebbles first, there is no room for the rocks, she said. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, material things, you will never have room for the things that are truly most important.”

I was dumbfounded. And I looked at her and said “Where are you going to get more mayonnaise from for my sandwich?

Kind of the wrong priority eh? Worried about the mayonnaise. But that is what life it is often like. What are your priorities in life? 

pastor tim