The Urgent Or The Important Series

“The Urgent or The Important – Luke 10:38-42”

Gladstone Baptist Church – TBA

When I look around the church, I see so many things that urgently need doing – people’s needs, opportunities to develop, programs to run, etc – they all seem to be urgently needed. OOPS

I’ve got a dilemma this morning, which I think many of you share. You see, when I look around me – at the ministry of the church, I see so many things that need to be done. There are needy people who need to be cared for – some need a friend, some need practical support, some need a shoulder to cry on. When I look around at all of these, I quickly realise that I can’t be there for everyone – but I’d like to be – because there are some really urgent needs here.

Then there are opportunities to reach out into the community. We all know that we are here to spread the word of God and bear a witness and there are so many opportunities to do so. I know that we could double the number of children in our brigades or in KOGS if we really wanted to and we should probably try to reach as many as we can – but then I sit back and think about what it will involve. Imagine all of those kids – We’ll need people to supervise them We’ll need to find space to fit them. We’ll need some who can actually do the work of exploiting the opportunities. Reaching people for the kingdom of God is urgent work – so much work to do but I don’t know how on earth we are going to get it all done. .

And then there is the programs we are currently running in this church. Anyone who is involved in any of the programs in our church, knows that virtually every ministry could urgently do with more people helping in it. I think most of our ministries are doing a fantastic job, but I can’t be involved in every ministry, else I’ll burn out.

This is my dilemma - I’m usually the sort of person you see who sees that something needs doing and jumps in and does it. But sometimes I find myself wishing I was an octopus who had 8 arms and able to multitask just that little bit better. It always seems that there is always more urgent things needing to be done than I can handle.

And this is probably not just true about church. I think this is true about every part of our lives.

Think about your work – Often we are faced with deadlines which seem unrealistic, demands that seem unreasonable and paperwork that seems insurmountable.

Think about your home life – there are expectations placed on us to do chores around the house and to care for our family members.

Most of you will know by now that Deanna and I are in the process of adopting 3 children from Taiwan. Here they are here - Daniel is 2, Katie is 1 and Elise is a new born. Cute aren’t they – I’m probably biased!!! While most people are thrilled to hear this, the reactions of others are probably more realistic and blunt. You tell them the news and they just stare at you in disbelief. Its as though you are an alien who has just landed. Once they compose themselves enough to speak, they go on to tell you that you are completely mad; that it is going to be unbelievably hard to have these three kids and that your life is sure going to change.

When these three bundles of wriggling joy arrive in our home, I am going to have a lot of urgent things demanding my attention. Nappies needing to be changed, bottles to be warmed, nappies to be changed, baths to be filled, nappies to be changed, toys to be picked up, nappies to be changed, children to be fed - you get the idea!!! I am going to be kept so busy with the urgent things at home, that I think I’m going to be running from pillar to post and back again.

There seems to be a real dilemma here for me – because I see so many things which need to be done – urgently – but I don’t have the time or the energy to do them.

Why is it that we can never meet all the needs around us or do everything that needs doing? How does it make you feel to not be able to do everything that needs doing? UGH

I get so exhausted trying to get everything done that is urgent and I don’t think I am alone UGH