Chasing Sardines

Some years ago a headline told of three hundred whales that suddenly died. The whales were pursuing sardines and found themselves marooned in a bay. Frederick Harris commented, “The small fish lured the sea giants to their death. They came to their violent demise by chasing small ends, by prostituting vast powers for insignificant goals.”

The tragedy that befell these whales ought to be a lesson to all of us on the power of priorities. Priorities are the things that we deem valuable or important and they have a profound impact on our lives. For better or for worse, your priorities will guide your direction in life. Consider the whales that met their untimely death just because they were chasing sardines. They exerted such great strength in order to chase something so little and in the end it led to their own demise. I wonder how many people have thrown away their life, so to speak, just chasing a lunch like these whales? Are we just chasing sardines?

It’s not always easily apparent what we should prioritize. Dwight Eisenhower hit the nail on the head when he said, “What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.” Are we just hitting all the deadlines while we miss what’s truly important? Are our priorities out of whack?

If you are unsure of what your priorities are, just take a moment to consider the things you give your time, money, and energy to. Those are the things you are prioritizing. You can’t do everything; you have to pick and choose. There’s nothing wrong with that. You prioritize when you decide what things are worth giving your time, money, and energy to.

Whether you realize it or not, we all have priorities. Some have thought these things through, and others walk haphazardly through life, but we all are declaring what’s most important each day by our choices. The real question is not just, “Do I have priorities?”, rather the question is “Will I prioritize the right things?” Thankfully the Bible helps us know how to rightly prioritize our life. Here’s a few helpful examples.

PRIORITIZING YOUR THOUGHT LIFE

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
-Philippians 4:8, NIV

PRIORITIZING YOUR EFFORTS

For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
-1 Timothy 4:8, NIV

PRIORITIZING YOUR FINANCES/RESOURCES

24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
-Proverbs 11:24-25, NIV

PRIORITIZING WHEN FEELING WORRIED/PRESSURED

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
-Matthew 6:33, NIV

THE TWO MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITIES

36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
-Matthew 22:36-40, NIV

While We Wait

What do you do when you don’t know what to do?

            As Christians, it is our desire to know God’s will and to live it out. Learning His will is often achieved through time in prayer, reading God’s word, and seeking wise counsel. But what about when you’ve done all that, and God seems to be silent?

            When this happens, it can be tempting to move ahead with our own plans or ideas, but this would be “leaning on our own understanding.” The best response is simply to wait, knowing the path God sets you on will be far better than what you could’ve imagined or accomplished on you own.

Isaiah 55:9 says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

            Although God’s perfect plan often comes through patience, this time of waiting is not our cue to sit back and do nothing.

Here are some tips for staying productive during a season of waiting.

#1. While waiting, spend more time alone with God.

            When somebody talks softly, it causes us to have to focus in and listen more closely. This is exactly what we should do when struggling to hear from God. In Matthew 7, Jesus encourages us to ask, seek, and knock continually until we receive an answer. Don’t take God’s timing as indication that He doesn’t want to hear from you.

#2. While waiting, recognize the opportunity for growth.

            The bible says several times that strength is produced through the practicing of patience.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
-Psalm 27:14

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
-Isaiah 40:31

            I’m reminded of a song from several years ago by Josh Waller. The chorus said, “While I’m waiting, I will serve you. While I’m waiting, I will worship. While I’m waiting, I will not faint. I’ll be running the race even while I wait.

            Waiting upon the Lord doesn’t mean we become stagnant. It’s a time of preparation. If you are in a season of waiting, look for ways to continue obediently running the race God has marked out for you!

More than Mediocrity

Mediocrity comes from the Latin “medius” meaning middle, and “ocris” meaning rugged mountain. Literally translated it means to settle halfway to the summit of a difficult mountain. Mediocrity is a compromise of one’s abilities and potential. It’s the urge to stop short instead of pursuing excellence. Mediocrity will only take you halfway to your destination and will always leave you half of the person you were created to be.

            None of us were created by God to be mediocre. Mediocrity is not a Christian ethic. Consider for a moment Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. There is nothing mediocre about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He had to walk the hardest path and traverse the toughest route. The burdens He had to bear were immeasurable and the pain he felt was excruciating while He suffered for the sins of the entire world. If anyone had the reason or right to stop short, it was Jesus. Who would have blamed Him? But His mission was not one of mediocrity. He didn't just go halfway up His mountain. Rather He marched to the top of that old hill called Golgatha and He hung on that old rugged cross til at last He could declare, "It is finished!". Do you remember the words of that precious hymn?

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross
The emblem of suffering and shame
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down
And I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it some day for a crown

            If this is the example of our savior, then we must reflect it too. Don't settle for mediocrity. Don't just go halfway up the mountain. Carry your cross and follow Jesus. Keep going and finish your God-given task until you, like Jesus, can say, "It is finished". You were made for more than mediocrity.

Mud

He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. - Psalm 40:2 NLT

            Several years ago, our neighbors had an outdoor summer party and one of their activities included mud volleyball. Our friends' dad used some of his farming equipment to dig a regulation sized pit and pond water to create the court. We played for hours and had a blast.

            One thing we found out very during the game was that it was difficult to move quickly. Standing still for any length of time made your feet sink into the mud. So when the ball came toward you, it was hard to move to the ball. Also, the mud was so slick, we fell a lot. As you can imagine, we were all a huge mess when the game was over and many went down to the lake afterwards to clean off in the water before going home.

            This memory reminds me of today's verse in Psalm 40:2, "He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along."

            Our sinful lives before Christ may be compared to a mud pit. Our feet are trapped, making our spiritual walk difficult. We get stuck in our mire, lose our footing and become spiritually filthy. But thank God, He has the power to pull us out of the pit we create for ourselves, clean our filthy lives, and put our feet on solid ground!

            Have you allowed Him to pull your life out of the mud? Today is your day to be clean before we it's time to go to our eternal Home!