What's Filling Your Jar?

What goes in first decides what still fits.

Theme: What's Filling Your Jar?
Verse: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." — Ephesians 5:15–16

I’m often amused by plays on words, especially phrases that can mean something entirely different depending on how they are written or punctuated. One of my favorites is:

PROCRASTINATE, NOW!

Of course, it’s funny because those two words seem like they should never go together. But there is actually a serious lesson hidden in that contradiction.

How we spend our time matters.

Time is the one thing in this world that, once spent, is gone forever. (Psalm 90:12)

If a task is not completed in the time allotted, it does not simply disappear. It piles up on top of the next set of things that need to be done.

God has a plan for each of us. But if we are too busy recovering from a pile of things left undone, we may become too distracted, overwhelmed, or “unable” to dedicate our time to the need that is right in front of us in that moment. (Colossians 4:5)

We each have goals, jobs, and responsibilities. Certainly, we need to take care of those things. But if we are good stewards of our TIME, we can be used more effectively by God to be His hands and feet.

Stephen Covey illustrated this with a jar. He filled it first with large rocks, then added pebbles, sand, and finally water. Each time, more could fit.

The lesson? It isn't that we don't have enough room - or time. It's that we have to put the important things first.

Big Rocks first.

Jesus gave us the ultimate example of what belongs at the top of our priority list:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
— Matthew 6:33

But if we are not careful, the little—and often easier—things will fill our schedules, leaving no room for the important and sometimes difficult things.

Exercise and relationships are good examples. Both are important—and both are easy to put off. We can always exercise tomorrow. We can call that friend next week. We can spend more time with our family when things calm down.

But put those things off long enough, and the results begin to show.

And there is another danger: sometimes the little things don't look like distractions.

They can be good things. They can even be productive things. But good things can still crowd out the best things.

Our phones, emails, chores, errands, meetings, and countless other demands can consume every available space in our jar.

The question shifts from “Are we busy?” to “What are we busy doing?”

So, make a list of your Big Rocks and work on those first every day. Put God first. Make time for the people who matter. Take care of the responsibilities you've been given.

Put the Big Rocks in first.

Have a GREAT week!