Jump Start # 3965
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteous, and all these things will be added to you.”
Wayne Cordeiro, in his book, ‘Leading on Empty,’ talks about the most important 5% in our lives. Here is what he means:
· 85% of what we do, anyone can do (attending meetings, reading emails, keeping up with information)
· 10% is what someone with training can do. “Someone trained us to run computer programs, solve a problem, head up a meeting. With appropriate schooling and experience, someone else can perform surgery, manage an engineering project, or sell real estate” (pg. 78).
· 5% of what I do, only I can do. I can’t delegate this to someone else. I can’t hire someone to do these things. These things require that I be there.
Cordeiro says, “We often fill our days with the 85% because it requires so little of us. We might dip into the 10% because that is what our jobs require. It’s our 5% that makes the difference. It’s these 5% that no one else can do. Our jobs know us for the 10% of our life, but it’s the 5% that God remembers us for.”
In a business approach, Cordeiro is dealing with priorities. What is most important? Getting your order in the right order. The world has mastered a way of switching price tags and making us believe what is really important, when it is not. We can live a life focusing on the 85% while never touching the most important 5% stuff.
So, what should be on the 5% list:
1. A healthy and growing faith in the Lord.
2. A close and genuine relationship with your family.
3. Making a difference in the hearts and lives of others.
4. Connected and impacting your spiritual family.
There are some valuable lessons about priorities:
First, some things cannot be put off. While building a career, it’s easy to put our family on the back burner. That’s a 10% decision over a 5% choice. But, when you are ready to build that relationship with your family, time has gone by. They are busy with their lives. They may no longer want a relationship with you. Some things cannot be delayed until later. The choices a man makes in his twenties may determine whether or not he can be a shepherd in his fifties.
And, with God, one never knows when our divine appointment with death will be. Believing you have time can be a grave mistake.
Second, getting your order in order, such as seeking first the Kingdom of God, will shape the choices and decisions you make throughout your life. While we much too often get bothered by the 85% stuff, it’s the 5% things that need our attention as quickly and as soon as we can. Who you marry, what career you pursue, where you worship, what attitudes you carry in life will all be shaped by whether or not the 5% priorities become a priority to you.
Third, as one ages in life, he quickly sees that it’s not the 85% stuff that is important. What matters are those 5% things. Faith. Love. Family. Forgiveness. Hope. Heaven. Nothing beats those things. Many can look back over the years and see that they wasted time pursuing things that do not matter. Bigger barns was on the farmer’s mind in Luke’s Gospel. He forgot the 5% things. He was rich in land, rich in harvest, but poor towards God. He failed to have his order in order.
Maybe less social media and more conversations. Maybe less TV and more reading books. Maybe less in a hurry to leave after services and more sticking around talking to people. Maybe less running here and there and more sticking around home and counting your blessings. Maybe less complaining and more praying. Maybe less 85% and more 5%.
We have all kinds of lists. Grocery lists. Christmas lists. To do lists. How about a 5% list?
Sure is something to think about…
Roger