The Tyranny of the Urgent

Life fills up with activities, responsibilities, and obligations that have little or no consequence… if we allow that to happen. Do you frequently tell people, “I just can’t do __________ (fill in the blank) because I am too busy?” You may have succumbed to the tyranny of the urgent.  Entire weeks may pass without any real forward progress though filled with meetings, calls, and conversation if a person is unable or unwilling to impose order on the demands of his life.  In order to live in a way that is most effective we must be prepared to say “No,” as well as “Yes.”  For example, on Friday mornings, if you call my church office, the young lady who answers the phone will tell you that I am not available.  That morning I am focused exclusively on finishing my message for Sunday.  Only an emergency pulls my attention from that priority.  I want to be available to those who call, but realize a “no” is required so that I can say “yes” to what is of greater importance that day.

A core belief of Christianity is that Jesus Christ will return to bring about the conclusion of history and to call the world to judgment.  This promise awaits fulfillment and the delay causes many Christians to forget the importance of it.  What we must remember is that even if Jesus does not return in His Glory, every one of us faces the end of life, which will come much sooner than we think.  That fact is grim to some, of great hope to others.  The return of Christ should never be a source of dread for the Spirit-filled Christian. If our lives are shaped around the will of God, focused on Heaven’s priorities, we will anticipate Christ’s return.  It really will be our ‘ Blessed Hope.’  

But, we run the risk of getting sidetracked. Jesus warns us “Watch out! Don’t let me find you living in careless ease and drunkenness, and filled with the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, as in a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep a constant watch. And pray that, if possible, you may escape these horrors and stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36, NLT)  

End Times prophecy has never been a favorite topic for me.  Some Believers get so caught up in weaving scenarios about what’s next, they forget to live the Kingdom life right now. Others retreat from the work of the Gospel to wait for Jesus to rescue them from this present world.  And, yes, there are those who twist the Bible’s teaching into such ridiculous schemes that the whole subject becomes a lot of speculative silliness!  Never the less,  we cannot forget that Jesus said He would return, told us that the world would go from bad to worse in the times before His return, and that we risk being so taken up with the urgent that we lose sight of the important.

Each of us needs to ask ourselves if we have done the things today that we would do if it were our last day before His return or before our life came to an end.  “That’s awfully grim,” you say?  For me, it is a way to stay in touch with the truly important: loving God, loving others, forgiving those who wrong, sharing hope with those who are hurting, using things but not falling in love with them.

Here’s the word from the Word.  May it free you from the tyranny of the urgent! "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2:11-14, NIV)

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Rejoice The Lord Is King

Rejoice, the Lord is King,

Your Lord and King adore!

Rejoice, give thanks, and sing,

And triumph evermore.

Lift up your heart;

Lift up your voice,

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Rejoice in glorious hope,

Our Lord the judge shall come

And take His servants up

To their eternal home.

Lift up your heart,

Lift up your voice,

Rejoice, again I say, rejoice!

Charles Wesley | John Darwall

Public Domain