Power Point - May 11, 2005

May 11, 2005

If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all this people will also go to their place in peace.

--Exodus 18:23

Do you ever feel like the sailor who had an anchor under each arm? He fell into the water and said, “If someone doesn’t help me, I’m going to have to drop one of these anchors!” A lot of us are like that. We hang on to the anchors of life and won’t ask anyone to help us. One example of a man in the Old Testament who had a hard time putting his priorities in order was Moses.

Moses led the children of Israel out of bondage from Egypt and through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. Along with God’s great blessing came the burden and responsibility of leading the people and solving their problems. According to the Bible, Moses counseled people by talking to them, hearing their problems, dealing with their difficulties, and responding to their questions from sunrise to sunset.

Day after day, Moses got so busy with God’s work that he experienced stress and eventually told his wife to take their children and go stay with his father-in-law, Jethro. But Jethro soon came back with his daughter and grandchildren and said, “Why are you trying to do all of this alone? This is not good. Find several honest men who fear God to help you serve the people. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you.”

Although this story is centuries old, it is truly up-to-date. It sounds like my life and yours, doesn’t it? Robert J. McCain said: “The reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first.”  Jethro gave Moses an idea as to how he could get more accomplished by putting first things first.

In order to maximize your life, recognize that the responsibilities of your life will often conflict with the priorities of your life, remember that activity is not accomplishment, realize that longevity is in direct proportion to the proper investment of your energy, resolve to keep the main thing the main thing, and respond to a greater variety of needs through shared responsibility.

Moses was fair and flexible. He established, maintained, and shared his priorities by investing them in others. As a result, he reduced his own stress and multiplied his service to others and the Lord. That’s learning how to manage your priorities. Stop trying to be superman or superwoman. You’ll end up exhausted and explosive with stress. Learn how to fix your priorities according to the will and purpose of God for your life.

IF YOU TRUST GOD TO LEAD, DIRECT, AND GUIDE YOU, YOU WILL FIND ENOUGH TIME TO ACCOMPLISH EVERYTHING GRACEFULLY AND PEACEFULLY.