Rethinking Our Priorities

I have chosen the faithful way; I have placed Your ordinances (accounted Your ordinances worthy) before me. Ps 119:30

It is almost the end of another week and as I think about my tasks here at home and the errands that have taken me out and about, it say’s a lot about my priorities. As I’ve grown past middle age one of my biggest life lessons has been that priorities are rarely easy to maintain. Distractions, emotions, illness and interruptions are always nipping at my heels to turn me away from what matters most. Then there are the crisis of loved ones that come unexpectedly and many other intruders when I least expect it.

A woman’s priorities will always define her reaction to life and the quality of her walk with God. Priorities  begin by defining what matter most.

Do we tell ourselves “after this month, things will finally start to slow down.”

Once this next birthday celebration is over, that home project is complete, the potty training is accomplished, when the final exam is over, those obligations are fulfilled, THEN my sanity will return; THEN my family will regroup; THEN the days will be a little more relaxing.

Nevertheless, that anticipated blank space seems to last for only a short time, and before I know it, life feels “too busy” again. Because another family birthday comes up. And another project needs done around the house. And another meal needs taken to a new mama. And another relationship needs nurtured. And another season of grandmother-hood arises with new demands, duties, and decisions.

We live in a culture in which busy is a byword for the average lifestyle. Somewhere it went from being a byword to a bad word. And in an attempt to avoid its dangers, people are shouting from the rooftops, “Simplify your schedule! Just learn to say ‘no!’ Don’t make too many commitments!”

While many of us have truly been helped by such lifestyle shifts, I wonder if it has created an increased craving for days of downtime and solitude with few demands requiring our attention? I also wonder if this has place more focus on “self” and an aimless and un-fulfilling need to the “what about me” mentality of our culture.

But are these the attitudes towards busyness and the new shift on self what Christians ought to accept? Is a full calendar something to fear? Is a demanding schedule unholy and unhealthy?

I’d like to suggest that we are called to a busyness that can be worshipful, not resulting in weariness. Before that statement makes you agitated, let’s consider the word busy. When we think of the word busy, we tend to associate it with chaos, burnout, and stress.

If you are familiar with Proverbs 31:10–31, you know this woman is busy—sewing, planting, buying, selling, cooking, providing, teaching. But how do her children describe her? Her children rise up and call her stressed? No. “Her children rise up and call her blessed” (v. 28). As she walks in the fear of the Lord, seeking to make the most of her time and not “eat the bread of idleness” (v. 27), this woman lives a fruitful, busy life for the glory of God.

Let me be clear: We are not commanded to neglect biblical priorities, such as marriage and family just so we can squeeze in an hour of volunteer work. In fact, it’s interesting to note that many of the good works the Proverbs 31 woman is devoted to are in service to her own family.

So how do we begin to re-think our priorities? We must begin in God’s word! We can sit in a small group and agree with ourselves until we’re blue in the face, but until we are transformed by the renewing of our minds morning by morning in our bibles, our priorities will rarely have an eternal and meaningful thrust.

Let’s commit to things in keeping with biblical priorities. Let’s start with the time in the scriptures we need and cut out the non-essentials, such as unnecessary social media scrolling, or Netflix bingeing. Let’s choose like the psalmist did to let the word of God prioritize all our moments and our days and live out the beauty and blessing of our salvation.