Day 176 Choices

This makes me chuckle, so I thought I'd share it with you. Being told from the guy's perspective makes it even more funny. The point is: make time first for the things that matter most.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. 1 Corinthians 6:12a

For about the first month of my marriage, I made the same mistake every night. I was coming home late for dinner.

My wife, Cathy, was (and still is) very patient. During our first weeks of marriage, she would call me in the afternoon and ask about my arrival time and dinner desires. She was always cheerful and flexible and didn’t mandate a time to be home. I was always given the chance to pick the time. Typically, I’d say something like, “I’ll be home at 6, so why don’t we eat at 6:30?”

Things would have gone really well had I arrived home at 6 p.m. like I said I would. Instead, as I was leaving the church office I’d get a phone call from a student who wanted me to drop by his house and see his new drum set. “What a great ministry opportunity!” I’d think to myself, “And it’s on the way home.” Or, as I was preparing to leave the office, a parent would stop by and ask if I had “just a minute.”

One night while we were having dinner, I politely asked, “Do you mind if I heat this up in the microwave for a minute?” Little did I know that a simple question could lead to tears, screaming, silverware flying, words I hadn’t heard her say before (to this day I still believe it may have been tongues), and a quick exit from the table. I thought, “What was that all about?”

When I pulled the fork from my neck, it became clear to me that it wasn’t about my question; it was about my nightly decisions to make everything and everyone else more important than my bride. I wish I wasn’t so stupid then, but I’m thankful that I learned at an early age that some things (work add-ons) just aren’t as important as other things (my marriage).

So while busyness in the pursuit of doing good things is often worn as a badge of honor, unfortunately, behind that badge we typically find a damaged spiritual life, a damaged family life, and a damaged career. Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you’re exempt from the consequences that typically follow an unrelenting lifestyle of busyness.

God has given you the privilege to conduct your own life. You have the freedom to make choices that can lead to God’s blessing and favor, as well as painful consequences. Today, take a look inside to make sure your choices align with your priorities. Don’t just prioritize your schedule. Choose and schedule those things that matter most.