Priorities

I have sat down to write about the importance of setting and keeping priorities several times but have been unable to complete my thoughts. It is because it is an area where I still struggle. Our oldest daughter began college this year. It was easy for me to see she was putting way too many activities on her plate. My best friend does not know how to say "no". His calendar makes you want to laugh, then cry. A young woman I work with strains to hear her calling through the cries of needs surrounding her.

It is easy for me to identify the mistakes of others, much more difficult to recognize my own. I was talking to my mom last weekend (one of my priorities, one I have neglected), she offered the same advice to me I offered my daughter, "stop trying to do so much". I was shocked, part of me who believes I am doing too little. It wars with the need to set and maintain priorities. It reacted to my mother's words with a dismissive, "she doesn't know what she is talking about, you can handle it." I imagine my words to my daughter and friends fall prey to a similar dismissive spirit. What harm is there in having a full plate? Shouldn't we seek a full life? If we are aware of a need and do nothing to fix it, are we shaming God? 

I offer my plate to answer these questions. I work full time for the Homeless Coalition as their outreach worker. I am planting Connections. I am a husband, father of three, and son to parents who just relocated 300 miles to be nearer. I have friends who I enjoy, count on and want to be apart of their lives. I am undecided on selling our home or refinancing. I am responsible for managing the finances of two businesses and our household budget. I am a member of Freedom Church. 

There are plates more full than mine. My first reaction to my list is,"I should be able to manage that load", but I confess, I can not. My priorities are out of balance and it is hindering my efforts and causing damage. It shows in every area of my life. God has given me a great capacity for compassion and it serves me well. As I share His love I witness hope restored and purpose discovered. However, when I become unbalanced sincerity is lost. 

Yesterday I visited inmates in jail. I am allowed to meet with them one on one in a comfortable office setting. I receive and compile a list of fifteen to twenty names each week. As I reviewed the list yesterday I recognized two or three names. When we met I discovered I had visited most of them before. I did not recognize their faces and struggled to remember our previous conversations. They deserve better. Giving the impression of caring without doing the work of caring is wrong. Poor care is a clear sign unbalanced priorities. A crowded plate creates false expectations and inhibits our ability to serve.

The solution is simple but not easy; define your priorities and purpose. What has God called you to do? Does your current schedule reflect your priorities? If not, shape it until it does. Remember, you are part of the whole. God's gift to the world is not you; God's gift to the world is His Church, the Body of Christ. You do not shame God by not answering each need personally. You shame God by attempting to operate outside your purpose, independent from the whole. 

Connections will provide sincere compassionate care, not by the efforts of one, but many. Each member of our launch team will be encouraged to define priorities and purpose. Connections will clearly define our scope. Emerging needs will be brought before the body and new hands will be added when warranted.


 ^14-17Dear friends, do you think you'll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?

 ¹⁸I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, "Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I'll handle the works department."
   Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.  (James 2:14-18, The Message)


¹¹ And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, ¹³ till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (Ephesians 4:11-13, New King James Version)