Big Rocks

 

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”

–Eph 5:15-16 (NAS)

 

God’s purposes for the church are also His purposes for our lives.  In  summary,  you  were  planned  for  God’s  pleasure (worshipping God), formed for God’s family (fellowshipping with other believers), created to become like Christ (spiritual growth as a disciple), shaped for serving God (ministry to insiders in the Body Christian), and made for a mission (sharing your life and faith with outsiders).

 

God wants us to integrate each of these purposes into our daily lives. But how do we do it all? An illustration used by a time management expert can help. As he stood before a group of overachieving business students, he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouthed Mason jar. Setting it on the table, he took about a dozen fist-sized rocks and carefully placed them into the jar one at a time.

 

When no more rocks would fit inside, he asked,“Is the jar full?” Everyone replied, “Yes.” So he pulled out a hidden bucket of gravel and dumped some in. He shook the jar, causing pieces to work themselves down into the spaces between the big rocks.“Is it full now?” he asked. By now the class was on to him.“Probably not,” one answered. “Good!” he replied.

 

Reaching under the table for another bucket, he dumped  in sand, which went into all the spaces between the rocks and gravel. Once more he asked,“Is this jar full?”“No!” they shouted. “Good!” he said, as he grabbed a pitcher of water and poured it in until the jar was filled to the brim. The point isn’t that no matter how full your schedule is you can always fit more into it!

 

The moral is: If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all! Although they cover every area of our lives, Scripture says that the five purposes above are the only really “big rocks” in our lives. Let’s be wise people who make the most of our time by filling it with the big rocks first (Eph 5:15-21)!

 

For Discussion: What do each of these five purposes mean? How do, could, or should you prioritize them in your life (By the way, if you missed the year’s campaign, copies of Rick Warren’s book The Purpose-Driven Life are available  in Charisma).

 

Family Activity: Think up a version of the illustration above. Label your “big rocks” with God’s purposes for your lives. Talk about how to prioritize these purposes as you fill up your “jar” with life’s “other stuff.”