School bell rings
TEACHER: Attention class! Welcome to time management 101. Today’s lesson is on priorities. As you see I have on the table a jar and several large rocks. (Sound of rocks going into jar begins) As I put the rocks into the jar. I want you to tell me when you think the jar is full.
STUDENT: OK, the jar is full professor
TEACHER: Yes, looks full, but what you didn’t realize is that under the table I also have some gravel which I will now (sound of gravel pouring) add to the jar to fill in the empty space around the big rocks.
STUDENT: It must be full now!
TEACHER: But wait, I also have some sand which we can pour over the gravel. (sound of sand pouring) Now is it full?
Crowd mumbling
TEACHER: You’re catching on because I also have (Sound of water pouring) a pitcher of water which I will pour over the sand to make the jar full. Now students, the jar is finally full!
STUDENT: But what does that have to do with priorities?
TEACHER: Suppose I had tried to put the gravel, sand and water in first. Could I have ever gotten the big rocks in?
STUDENTS ALL TOGETHER: No way!
TEACHER: That’s why Jesus said seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness They have to be the big rocks that go in first or they don’t get done. Seek God FIRST today. It’s the way to redeem the time.
Rick Grubbs is best known as the host of “Redeeming the Time,” a one-minute radio program featured on hundreds of radio outlets around the world. He has spoken thousands of times on Biblical time management in all 50 states and 26 other countries. He is the author of the book “Morning Momentum: God’s plan for launching an unstoppable day”. He and his wife Carrie live in Salisbury NC with several of their 12 children.
