Bible Articles

C A R L   B.   G A R N E R THE BIG ROCKS GO FIRST There is a story going around that you need to hear. It goes like this: A time-management class was listening to their professor as he explained certain principles of their study. He picked up an old bucket and began to put some big rocks into it. When it was full, he asked the class if the bucket was full. They immediately said, "yes." Then the professor took a sack of gravel and began to pour it in. The smaller rocks and pebbles sifted into the gaps left by the big rocks and soon filled up the bucket. He asked the class if the bucket was full, and they, a bit more hesitantly said, "yes." He then took a sack of sand and poured it into the bucket, the grains of sand sifting into the gaps left by the rocks and the gravel. He asked the class again, "Is the bucket full?" but most of them were silent. He took a bottle of water and filled the bucket up to the brim. "What is the point of this illustration?" he asked. One bright young student said it means that even when you think your daily schedule is full, you can still get a lot of other work done. "No," said the professor. "The lesson is: if you want to get the big rocks in the bucket, you must put them in first." You get the point; some things (the big rocks) must be higher on our priority list than others. They must come first, not just squeezed into our schedule when it happens to be most convenient for us. This principle is essential for you and me today. It was true in the days of the patriarchs. It is true today. It has always been true. The sacrifices demanded of the Jews in the Old Testament had to be the very best they had to give, Exodus 23:29, Numbers 18:12. God has never been satisfied with man's leftovers. We must remember that the big rocks must go in first." When we wait until everything else is taken care of before we do the Lord's work, we often find that the bucket is already full before we get to the most important work. When you realize your need to study, does that study time come only after you have read the paper, watched a favorite TV program and gone to a ball game? The big rocks just never get their due respect. In our stressful times, it is not unusual for the least important to get the most attention. Parents often find little time for their children, even though they love them dearly. Yes, to fix the window screen, mow the lawn or clean out the garage are important, but are these big rocks, or merely some of the gravel that will fit in the bucket later after we spend time with those children who are ours for such a short time? "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate," Psalms 127:3-5. Aren't our children more important than window screens and a clean garage? You say, "It's not as simple as all that." Maybe not, but I promise you that down the road you will regret having wasted so much time on the little rocks. When Paul was inspired to give instruction to the Corinthians on the subject of their giving, he wrote, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him," 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. They (and we) are not to give what is left over at the end of the week, but our gift to the Lord's work must come out at the beginning. It's a "big rock." Did not Jesus say, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," Matthew 6:33. If we give back to God as He has prospered us, joyfully and cheerfully, don't we know He will provide our needs? Of course we do, but sometimes it's hard to remember that we need to put the big rocks into our priority bucket first. Jesus told about a man who found a "pearl of great price," and then went out and sold all he had so he could purchase that valuable pearl, Matthew 13:45-46. The man realized he had found something that was of more value than anything else, and he was wise enough to do what was necessary to obtain it. It was a big rock and he realized it. You and I know what is the most important thing in the lives of many people: money and pleasure. "If it feels good, do it" has been man's motto since the earliest days of his existence. "If there is time for God and for the worship of God, then that's just fine, but don't try to make a big deal out of it," is the attitude, even among many who are counted as "religious." But it doesn't take a lot of thought to realize that God, the Creator of us all, will not beg for our affection or gratitude. Nearly all of our prayers include the phrase "we are grateful for the gift of thy Son on the cross." So grateful that Christ is just one of many priorities in our life? "Get in line, Lord; you have to take your turn. I have just so much time for things, and you will have to wait." We don't say it that way, but we all know that's the way it comes out. Why not determine today to put the big rocks in your bucket first, even before those things the world says are so important. You and your children will be much happier today, and down the road you will all reap eternal rewards.