BE WISE, PRIORITIZE…

BE WISE, PRIORITIZE…


A story was told about a lighthouse keeper on a rocky stretch of coastline who received a new supply of oil each month to keep the light burning. Being close to the shore he had lots of guest.

A woman from the village needed some oil to keep her family warm; a farmer requested some for his tractor; a mechanic wanted some to lubricate a wheel. The entire request seemed legitimate so the lighthouse keeper tried to please everybody. Before the month was over his oil was gone and the beacon went out.


As a result several ships were wrecked and lives were lost. When the authorities investigated, the man was very repentant. But to his excuses and pleading their reply was, ‘You were given oil for one purpose to keep the light burning, ‘Be wise, prioritize!


In a survey, people over 90 were asked, ‘If you had your life to live over what would you do differently? ‘Three answers constantly re-emerged:(a)I would spend time with my family and friends(b)I would take more risks(c)I would do things that would live on after I am gone.


Wisdom is the art of knowing what to overlook. Petty things steal too much of time and we finish up living for the wrong reasons.


A farmer was asked which was better — raising cattle on open grazing land, in a pasture, or in a enclosed place. His reply was, "Well, on open grazing land they are always subject to attack from wild animals or they could wander off and be lost. In a enclosed place they are safe, but somebody has to take care of them. In a fenced pasture, the cattle have everything they need. They are protected, yet have the freedom to graze."

The Bible defines our pasture. God has placed intelligent boundaries around us to keep us "home" and to keep away those who would prey on us, yet within those boundaries we have freedom to make choices. Deep down, young people want boundaries. We have seen those who had no rules, no curfews, who could make all their own decisions, but who wanted some guidance. A life without boundaries is bound to crash. It is an accident going somewhere to happen.