BUSY OR BORING?
Is my life too busy? Is the alternative to a "busy life" a "boring life"? I want to live a life that is pleasing to God, so it's important to assign the right priorities to all the things that demand my attention.
I do see some people whose life is so simple, it seems to me that it would be boring...and yet simplicity seems like a worthy goal.
Trying to sort out all of my interests and responsibilities is rather difficult, but important to do.
EARTHLY OR SPIRITUAL?
The Bible is clear about the brevity of a man's life on this earth. Isaiah the prophet was told to "shout that man's life is like grass...it's beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field."
Paul reminds us that everything we can see is temporal and passing away. Only the "unseen" or spiritual is lasting.
Peter tells us that "the end of all things is at hand" and ultimately the physical earth that we now dwell on will be cleansed by fire and our ultimate destiny is to live on a "new earth". Our life then will be never ending.
These truths cannot be ignored in considering the priorities of how I will spend my time and energy now.
THE HIGHEST PRIORITY
For me, it must be to "know God and live to please Him." How can things that are only temporary and lifeless receive so much of my given resources?
And yet, it is clear that we have been given responsibilities for life on this earth as long as we live here. The wisdom for fulfilling our duties here will be given by the Holy Spirit living in me and the Word which the Holy Spirit inspired. This requires that I give some time to reading His Word and listening to His voice. So in effect, that becomes my highest priority of how I spend my time.
THINGS OF LIFE
Life is filled with an assortment of interests and demands. The challenge is to sort them out and properly prioritize my time. As a young parent, just keeping up with daily responsibilities of caring for the others in our life pretty much fills our time...and consumes our energy. In later life, however, one may have more discretionary time and choices must be made. That's where I'm at now. Of course their are still many responsibilities that cannot be ignored, including food shopping, preparation and clean up, house cleaning, yard care, bill paying, auto maintenance and medical needs, to name a few. Currently I am working on sorting all the "stuff" I've accumulated, disposing of the unwanted and unnecessary and organizing what's left.
It's important to me to be able to help with various needs of my family: my wife, my mother-in-law, my children and my wife's family members.
Without excessive detail, this covers a lot of what is in my mind continually and requires attention to prioritizing my time.
"Father, I ask for your wisdom and strength, to be the person You want me to be."
When time allows, I then use the woodworking skills I've acquired thru the years, to build or re-finish useful pieces of furniture or shelving. Sometimes I am offered remodeling work for others.
Life is busy...full and blessed in so many ways.
Is my life too busy? Is the alternative to a "busy life" a "boring life"? I want to live a life that is pleasing to God, so it's important to assign the right priorities to all the things that demand my attention.
I do see some people whose life is so simple, it seems to me that it would be boring...and yet simplicity seems like a worthy goal.
Trying to sort out all of my interests and responsibilities is rather difficult, but important to do.
EARTHLY OR SPIRITUAL?
The Bible is clear about the brevity of a man's life on this earth. Isaiah the prophet was told to "shout that man's life is like grass...it's beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field."
Paul reminds us that everything we can see is temporal and passing away. Only the "unseen" or spiritual is lasting.
Peter tells us that "the end of all things is at hand" and ultimately the physical earth that we now dwell on will be cleansed by fire and our ultimate destiny is to live on a "new earth". Our life then will be never ending.
These truths cannot be ignored in considering the priorities of how I will spend my time and energy now.
THE HIGHEST PRIORITY
For me, it must be to "know God and live to please Him." How can things that are only temporary and lifeless receive so much of my given resources?
And yet, it is clear that we have been given responsibilities for life on this earth as long as we live here. The wisdom for fulfilling our duties here will be given by the Holy Spirit living in me and the Word which the Holy Spirit inspired. This requires that I give some time to reading His Word and listening to His voice. So in effect, that becomes my highest priority of how I spend my time.
THINGS OF LIFE
Life is filled with an assortment of interests and demands. The challenge is to sort them out and properly prioritize my time. As a young parent, just keeping up with daily responsibilities of caring for the others in our life pretty much fills our time...and consumes our energy. In later life, however, one may have more discretionary time and choices must be made. That's where I'm at now. Of course their are still many responsibilities that cannot be ignored, including food shopping, preparation and clean up, house cleaning, yard care, bill paying, auto maintenance and medical needs, to name a few. Currently I am working on sorting all the "stuff" I've accumulated, disposing of the unwanted and unnecessary and organizing what's left.
It's important to me to be able to help with various needs of my family: my wife, my mother-in-law, my children and my wife's family members.
Without excessive detail, this covers a lot of what is in my mind continually and requires attention to prioritizing my time.
"Father, I ask for your wisdom and strength, to be the person You want me to be."
When time allows, I then use the woodworking skills I've acquired thru the years, to build or re-finish useful pieces of furniture or shelving. Sometimes I am offered remodeling work for others.
Life is busy...full and blessed in so many ways.