Out of Control
Theme of the Week: Hurried Sick
John Ortberg
Thursday, August 28, 2003
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Key Bible Verses: "This is not good!" his father-in-law exclaimed. "You are going to wear yourself out" (Exodus 18:17-18). Bonus Reading:Exodus 18:5-27
As a result of this encounter with my friend, I took the initiative to pull together a small "personal schedule group." We covenanted together that we wouldn't take on any added commitments in life without discussing them with each other and with our families first. The covenant helps us take into account the fact that we all have severe limitations. It also gave us full permission to talk not only about our schedules but also about the motives behind our activities.
It is dangerous to live without this kind of accountability. The father of one of my friends has been involved in ministry for nearly 50 years. His dad recently told him, "Well, son, we'll have to get together as soon as I can get my schedule under control."
His son's comment to me: "For all 39 years of my life my dad has talked about what we're going to do as soon as he gets his schedule 'under control.' He actually seems to believe that someday his schedule will somehow come under control. What is worse, he refuses to talk about or even acknowledge to himself the real reason why his schedule is out of control."
—John Ortberg in The Life You've Always Wanted
My Response: Should I recruit help in "getting real" about my schedule?
Thought to Apply: Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity.
—Jean de la Bruyère (French moralist)
Adapted from The Life You've Always Wanted (Zondervan, 1997) by permission.
Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.
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Eternal Father, I know it's not Your plan for me to feel driven. Please reveal to me Your perspective on my time.
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