Filter out activities that don't have lasting value.
| posted 1/30/2009
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Carpooling. Serving on church or community committees. Keeping up with friends and family. Watching television. Taking kids to the doctor, to soccer practice, to music lessons. Working long hours to finish a project. Let's face it—most of us are incredibly busy. And when you're busy, finding time for God can feel like just one more thing in an already overloaded schedule.
Titus reminds us in this passage that although we need to do helpful things, we must keep our focus on what's most important: our relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, he says bluntly, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us" (3:5). This doesn't mean you shouldn't do good things for others, but that you should evaluate what are "urgent needs" (3:14).
It's so easy to let others' desires pull you in many directions. When you allow that to happen, you can feel as if you have no control over your life. But that isn't the case. Teach your kids not to interrupt you during your quiet time. Spend your lunch hour, your baby's feeding, or your preschooler's nap time in praising God. Go on a women's retreat. Or use a long commute to pray. There are many creative ways to maintain spiritual priorities in the midst of your busy life. Your challenge is to say no to lesser things so you can say yes to what really matters. (See also Mark 13:32-37; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.)
Good Words to Remember:
And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful. Titus 3:14
Today's Challenge:
What things have you said no to so you could say yes to other things?
Copyright 2001 by the author or Christianity Today International/Christian Bible Studies.
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