Priorities

[Coaching Lesson #8 from our Serving Leadership Development Program—Beginning the Journey, Phase 1]

Most leaders are very busy people. Leaders often struggle to meet all the demands for their time, attention, and energy. It often seems like there is more to do than the time or resources available to get it all done. In cases like this, leaders must establish priorities. Effective leaders learn to discern the most important use of their time and talent and are able to set their priorities accordingly. They say “No” to some things so they can say “Yes” to the best or most important things. We must learn that if we fail to decide what matters most, we will become victims of the loudest or latest demands, spending our time on things that make little or no impact.

Wrong Priorities Come from a Wrong Purpose (Luke 12:16-21)

Jesus tells a story of a man whose main priorities were his wealth and possessions. This man did have priorities, but they were the wrong ones. His priorities were acquiring wealth and securing his future. He started with the wrong priorities or purpose, and ultimately failed to achieve either priority.

Our purpose and priorities should bring honor and glory to God rather than bring pleasure to ourselves. Since we cannot do everything well, we must carefully choose a few things on which to concentrate—that which brings God the greatest honor and glory.

Having the Right Perspective (1 John 2:15-17)

Our perspective should determine our priorities, and our priorities should determine our practices. A biblical perspective tells us that anything that keeps us from obeying God’s will for our lives is idolatry, no matter how good it seems to be.

A Christ-centered life means that everything in life must be seen in relation to him. In light of Matthew 13:22 and Colossians 3:1-3, the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and other worldly desires have a way of choking the word of God out of our lives and making us unfruitful.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your top five priorities? List them in order of importance and then discuss them with another person.
2. In what ways do you struggle with living according to your priorities?
3. Read Luke 10:38-42. In what ways are we sometimes like Martha, who let a “good” thing prevent her from doing the “better” thing?