Time for What is Important – Sunday, October 03, 1982
We live in a busy world. There are so many things to do, so many responsibilities pulling for our attention. Even our technologies do not seem able to make our lives less crowded; as soon as we invent a system to simplify one task, another responsibility moves in to consume whatever time we’ve saved.
True, that may mean that we get more things done by making more efficient use of our time. But it may also mean that as our lives become full, more complex, more detailed, some of the more important aspects of living receive less attention or are forgotten all together.
For instance, how many times have we justified the amount of time spent away from families, justified the neglect families suffer because of careers or other distractions? “I’m doing these things for you,” neglected families are often told. And in fact, while that may be true, it does not make the neglect any less real.
Recently, when a boy received such an explanation from the father who never had time to play ball with him, the boy responded, “The trouble, Dad, is that I’m not in your book.”
“Book?” the father asked, “What book?”
“You know,” the boy replied, “the book you write your appointments in, the one where you keep track of meetings with important people. I’m not in there.”
Jesus spoke about this problem—the problem of mismanaged priorities. The occasion was when He visited the home of Martha, sister to Lazarus and Mary.
While Mary sat at the feet of Christ, learning of salvation, Martha worked in the kitchen and was annoyed that Mary did not help her. Finally, Martha complained to Jesus, who answered, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Too often, we do not recognize what is “needful,” what is most fun of need. Too often, perhaps, we allow what is important in our lives to be displaced by the details and activity that we think we’re doing for our families.
Someone needs to do the dishes; the details must be taken care of. But sometimes the details can wait, so that the words of the Savior may be heard, so that a father has time to play ball with his son, so that a mother has time to talk to her daughter, so that what is important receives the most attention in our lives.
_______________________________________
October 03, 1982
Broadcast Number 2,772