Prioritize and Maximize Time

I love quotes and I don’t mind using someone else’s good ideas. So, when someone says something that resonates with my life experiences, I want to share the message with others. For example, I love the Dunkin Donuts commercial from a few years ago where a baker, in uniform, awakes early in the morning and says, “Time to make the donuts.” He does this over and over in the course of a 30 second advertisement. I say this often, usually when I am required to perform important, but routine, mindless tasks. However, the truth is this baker knows how to prioritize.

Pastor Bill Farina is a friend of mine and someone who offers insightful advice. He has talked me into one worthwhile project after another over the years.

One such project was the time that he sensed the need for some leadership training. Pastor Farina said, “When life is less cluttered, scattered, and hurried, we make better decisions.” He  bases this advice on the truth of Ephesians 5: 16-17, which gives us the directive that we should “redeem the time.” So, the question is, as wise servants of the King, how do we redeem the time or, in other words, best manage our time in order to make decisions and take actions that accomplish God’s purpose for us?

I’ll share two strategies to help you redeem the time. First, “prioritize problems and challenges” into three levels:

1. Solve the emergencies first. When someone’s health or safety is in doubt, this is an emergency. Stop what you are doing and move quickly into action. 
2. Solve the quick and easy problems. Some people call this the “low hanging fruit.” The low hanging fruit grows at the bottom of the tree. They are the easiest to pick, not requiring a ladder to climb into the tree. 
3. Back to the basics. Sometimes it is good to remind yourself of your main purpose. For example, at schools, this level is about solving student oriented problems.

The second strategy is “skip perfect.” Luke’s gospel describes an encounter at the house of Mary and Martha in which Martha, a person whom Jesus loved dearly, was focusing on getting things perfect. Jesus’ response is so relevant to the topic at hand: “Don’t fret over the details.”

Prioritize and Maximize Time doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect. Waiting for perfect can be the enemy of good decision making.

“When life is less cluttered, scattered, and hurried, we make better decisions.” This reminds me of another commercial slogan, from a Super Bowl advertisement, which repeats the phrase, “Here we go.” Of course, Wego is the name of a scruffy little dog and every time anyone in the commercial says “Here Wego.” Wego brings that person a cold refreshment. It is hysterically funny and a good reminder that we all need help sometimes.

“Martha, dear friend, you are so upset over all these details.”

Luke 10:41-42, TLB

Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear

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