You Busy?

A professor stood before his philosophy class with an empty mayonnaise jar and started filling it with golf balls. When he finished, he asked the students if they believed the jar was full. They all agreed it was.

The professor then poured some pebbles into the jar. They rolled into the open spaces between the golf balls and pebbles. He asked if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The teacher next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. The sand filled in the small gaps between the golf balls and pebbles. He asked if the jar was full. The students, now smiling, answered with a big "yes."

The professor brought out the two cups of coffee and poured both cups into the jar, soaking into the sand. All the students laughed, amazed at all the jar really held.

"This jar represents your life," said the professor as the laughter died down. "The golf balls are the important things - God, your family, health, friends and the passions of your life. The pebbles are things like your job, school, home, and car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff, the details of your life."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the really important things. Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and asked what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may be, you can always find time for a cup of coffee with a friend." =)

Read Luke 10 : 38 - 42

In this passage, do you think Martha was focused on a "golf ball" or the "coffee?" What about Mary?

Most of us are either a "Mary" or a "Martha." A "Martha" is someone who focuses on what has to be done and how to get it done. A "Mary" is someone who knows that the work will get done when it gets done and wants to forcus on people. "Martha's" are task oriented, while "Mary's" are people-oriented. Both have good qualities and bad quanlities. Jesus was letting Martha know, in this case, Mary wasn't being lazy, but she was placing her focus in the right place.

Do you tend to be a "Martha" or a "Mary?" Where is your focus? God will help you find the balance to life. He will show you when to do what - and even how - as you grow closer to Him.

Ivan : May your focus is in the right place, focus on the big stuff first instead of the small stuff first, praying that you may know how to differentiate things which is more important and things less relevant. God bless