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by Dennis and Barbara Rainey

Ephesians 5:15,16
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

I'm addicted to baseball caps. I have caps from several baseball teams including the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers and Cantrell Lawn and Turf, my boys' Little League team that went 1-14 two years in a row. My other caps advertise a variety of vacation spots, deer and duck hunts, float trips and a couple of lesser-known corporations.

These caps serve as reminders of the different roles and responsibilities I have as a man. Recently my schedule was getting the upper hand, so I decided to take a year-end inventory of the "caps" I was wearing to see if I could reorganize them or shed some. A few from my list, in no particular order, were: employee, Sunday School teacher, friend, speaker, counselor, recruiter, writer, broadcaster, citizen, manager, motivator, hunter, housepainter, fisherman, taxpayer, financial planner, husband, father of six children.

Many of the "caps" I wear represent people I am responsible for. As I contemplated all these responsibilities, something I frequently ask myself came to mind: The question is not will I succeed, but where must I succeed. What caps must I be successful in wearing?

When I read in Ephesians that I should walk wisely, "making the most of your time" I realized I needed to weed out unessential responsibilities in my life so I would have room for the essentials. When we recently reorganized our closet, Barbara said I had too many caps and that I had to get rid of "a few." Painful as it was, I filled a small garbage can with half my original stock. My shoes fit neatly on the shelves again, I still have my emotional favorites in my possession, and I saved my marriage in the process!

I saw a T-shirt the other day that said, "I want it all." That just isn't realistic, is it? You and I can't have it all-something, or someone, will suffer.

Prayer:

That God will make you equal to the variety of tasks you shoulder and give you discernment regarding priorities.

Discuss: In addition to your responsibility to God, what other "hats" do you wear? Help one another by regularly tossing "hats" that are keeping you from being the best at your essential responsibilities.

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