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What's the Hurry?
Posted on Friday 29 January @ 17:09:09 |
 Dear Father, slow us down, so we can determine your will.
Quiet us down, so we can listen.
Bow us down, so that we can trust,
rather than worry.
In Jesus name, Amen.
What's the Hurry?
I want to begin today by asking you to take a pop quiz. This is a quiz to determine whether or not you struggle with the hurried life.
See the back of your Bulletin??
Hurry Quiz Yes and No Questions
1. Have ever eaten a meal while your'e driving? (30 years ago that was unheard of, now it's a daily experience)
2. Have ever read the cliff notes for a book report instead of an entire book?
3. Have ever hung up on someone while they were still saying good bye…
4. How many of you put your make up on/or tied a neck tie while driving to work? (If you've done both we need to meet with you after the service.)
5. How many of you have ever parked in the handicap parking place in front of the church - your not handicap?
6. Yes or no, your normal tendency when you see a yellow light is to accelerate instead of braking?
7. How many of you have ever changed clothes while driving from the office to the golf course? (if I ever die in a car wreck and I'm wearing my underwear and one golf shoe, you can explain it to the police officer)
8. Have ever thought during a sermon, how much longer is he going to go?
9. Have ever cut through a gas station if you get stuck at a red light and try to jockey your way around to beat the traffic flow?
10. Your children think their first name is either, Come on, Hurry, or Let's move it
Count your answers. 0-2 yeses, you can leave, but make certain you have a pulse.
5 yeses and you're probably normal in our fast-paced society.
6-8 you are flirting with a dangerous habit, and you need to take steps to slow down.
9 or higher you need to be in a support group!
The truth is as much as we complain about it, we kind of enjoy hurry. In a strange way it feeds our ego and makes us feel important. John Ortberg says, "We worship at the shrine of the Golden Arches, not because they sell "good food," or even "cheap food," but because it is "fast food."
Even after fast food was introduced, people still had to park their cars, go inside, order, and take their food to a table, all of which took time.
So we invented the Drive-Thru Lane to enable families to eat in vans, as nature intended."
(The Life You've Always Wanted, Ortberg p.83)
Jesus covers a lot of topics in the sermon on the mount. But right on the heels of telling His audience not to worry, he goes on and says not to hurry.
Look at Matthew 6:31,32. 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans RUN AFTER all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
It used to be if a person missed a stagecoach, no problem, they would just wait a few days for the next one to come. Nowadays in our fast paced society, if we miss one panel on a revolving door we're frustrated.
The funny thing is that 2 decades ago, time management experts suggested that with all of our modern technologies and shortcuts the average workweek would drop from 40 to approximately 36 hours. But just the opposite has occurred, the average work week for salaried positions is nearing 46.
There are some telltale signs of a hurried life. Doing more than one thing at a time,
a messy home or office.
The top of your desser in your bed room is messy
Some who hurry have difficulty in loving.
Hurry diminishes our capacity to truly love in the fullest sense.
Love and hurry are incompatible.
Love always takes time,
and time is one thing hurried people don't have.
Another sign is something that Lewis Grant calls "Sunset Fatigue."
It reminds us that oftentimes we are so drained and exhausted that God and family get the leftovers.
Usually our hurried life exposes itself when we are behind the wheel of a car.
I heard about a guy that was riding in a taxi cab in metropolitan area, they came to a red light, and the taxi driver sailed right on through it. The man said, "Hey watch it that light was red." The cabbie said, "Don't worry my brother does it all the time."
The next light they came to was red, and the cabbie barreled right on through. The man yelled, Hey pal you're going to get me killed."
The driver said, "Oh don't worry about it, my brother does it all the time.
The next light they came to was Green. And the driver slammed his brakes on.
The rider said, "What's your problem, the lights green?
And the driver said, "Yeah but you never know when my brother might be coming through."
You see their can be some consequences of hurrying. But that's the world we find ourselves in. If Patience is a fruit of the spirit,
then Hurry is not.
But in our world there is a high premium on busyness.
We're proud of our text messages,
we're glad that we're in demand.
"Impatience looks better to most moderns than does patience; even though impatience is intrinsically childish and immature.
We tend to equate busyness with positive self image. (And busyness begets impatience.)
Lily Tomlin says The trouble with the rat race is, even if you win, you're still a rat.
"Hurry is not of the devil, hurry is the devil.
Jesus always chose his words carefully, he says in verse 32, for the pagans run after these things. It's interesting that in the Bible we are told to stand firm. We're told to walk with God, but I can't think of a place in the Bible where we are told to RUN with God.
In fact Jesus is never in a hurry in the Bible. There is but one time where we see God running, and it is in a parable where the father of the prodigal son is representative of God the Father.
The only time we see Him running is when He is welcoming home a person who has gone astray. So what is the cure for the hurried life?
1. Learn to say No
The reward of being faithful is more responsibility.
If you are effective and efficient your plate will always be full, but if you don't learn to say no, your efforts will be mediocre instead of excellent.
Some people are like that they are involved in so many areas that they may only do one of them well.
It is possible to have so many irons in the fire that pretty soon you put the fire out.
Rick Warren says, "The person who burns the candle at both ends, may not be as bright as they think they are."
2. Set your priorities
One thing that stands out to me about the third world countries, is that I am depressed by how few things they have materially speaking, and I am perplexed by the pace of their lives and how much time they have.
They are possession poor and time rich, and here in America we are time poor and possession rich.
Which do you think is closer to what Jesus is driving at in the sermon on the mount?
We eat well, we dress well, but do we take the time to be alone with our God, and to be alone with those that we cherish.
The third cure is to
3. Schedule Margin Time
Time management experts tell you to plan for the unexpected by leaving gaps in your schedule for those important things that pop up. We especially need to do this with our spiritual calendar, and protect our time with God.
Plan regular intervals of solitude and occasionally a couple of times a year a spiritual retreat.
Plan for solitude so that you can listen to the Lord. God's word says in Psalm 46:10: Be still and know that I am God.
Jesus does go on and tell us that if you are in a hurry, there is something that you should be pursuing, listen to Matthew 6:33.
Mt. 6:33: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. What things? food clothing, shelter,
You say what about all the starving people? Talk to any restaurant owner and ask them how much food they have to throw away each evening.
You see we have enough food to feed the world.
You say, okay what about the people in need of medical attention?
Well every month over a ton of aspirin is discarded throughout the US. Do you know why?
It has been unused before the expiration date.
In the Dominican Republic so many of the people suffered from worms; if not treated in a matter of years they could gradually die. If doctors gave them a pill, that cost about 30 cents apiece, and if they take it as prescribed, they will be fine.
Understand that we have the resources, the challenge is getting it to people and as the body of Christ, doing our part with our time and resources to help get these basic necessities to people.
The question for you, is what are you running after?
Are you concerned with the lost or yourself? Are you trying to feed the hungry or just concerned with your own situation?
Charlie worked as a crossing guard back in the days of the Railroad when they didn't have the automatic rails that would come down to protect vehicles from crossing when a train was coming. But at night Charlie would be stationed there with a lantern to alert any cars if a train was coming.
One night he fell asleep on the job; only to awaken to the sound of an oncoming train coming up the road was a car with an entire family as its' passengers.
Charlie grabbed his lantern and began waving it but it was as if they didn't see it; they drove right into the path of the train and all passed away.
Weeks later there was an investigation and even a court hearing where Charlie was questioned. But following the trial, Charlie seemed very despondent and aloof; one of his friends tried to encourage him to get on with his life.
"What's wrong Charlie, you were cleared, you know you told the truth, what's troubling you?"
You're right, I answered every question truthfully, but there was one question that they never asked, they never asked me if the light was on in my lantern.
So many times that describes us, a flurry of activity, hurrying to this and that, can't visit with the neighbors got to get to go, can't talk with the co-worker who is open to the gospel because, you've got to get to.
And there we go, waving our lantern, with NO LIGHT on. And all the while an unsaved world heads through the darkness straight toward eternal destruction. You see for most of us the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith.
It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them." (Ortberg p82)
For if Satan can't make you bad he'll make you busy.
Let's make certain that we don't allow that to happen.
Let's be more concerned with what's on the inside rather than the speed we travel on the outside.
Think about this. You may not realize it, but it's 100% true.
1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.
2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.
3. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.
4. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.
5. You mean the world to someone.
6. If not for you, someone may not be living.
7. You are special and unique.
8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better.
9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it.
10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world.
11. Someone that you don't even know exists loves you.
12. Always remember the compliments you received.
Forget about the rude remarks.
13 . Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy .
14. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they are great.
I read this story:
A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.
It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He w as working on his future, and nothing could stop him.
Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old newsreel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been s o long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.
"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.
"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said.
"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.
As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.
The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time .
Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he said
"What box?" Mom asked.
"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,' Jack said
It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.
"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."
It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.
Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read.
Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope.
Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.
"Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.
Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover.
Inside he found these words engraved:
"Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued most was...my time"
Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days.
"Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.
"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.
"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away."
To everyone here today
"Thanks for your time.".
I love you.
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Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
-- Proverbs 4:8
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