The Big Rocks

The Big Rocks
Anonymous

One day an expert in time management was speaking to a group of business students and to drive home a point, used an illustration those students will never forget. As he stood in front of the group of high-powered overachievers, he said, “Okay, time for a quiz.” he pulled out a one-gallon, wide-mouth mason jar and set it on the table in front of him. Then he produced about a dozen ish-sized rocks and carefully placed them, one at a time, into the jar. When the jar was filled to the top and no more rocks would it inside, he asked, “Is this jar full?” Everyone in the class said, “Yes.” “Really?” he said. He reached under the table and pulled out a bucket of gravel. He dumped some gravel in and shook the jar, causing pieces of gravel to work themselves down into the space between the big rocks. He asked the group once more, “Is the jar full?” By this time, the class was on to him. “Probably not,” one of them answered. “Good,” he replied. He reached under the table and brought out a bucket of sand. He started dumping the sand into the jar and it went into all the spaces left between the rocks and the gravel. Once more he asked the question, “Is the jar full?” “No,” the class shouted. Once again he said, “Good.” he grabbed a pitcher of water and began to pour it in until the jar was filled to the brim. Then he looked at the class and asked, “What is the point of this illustration?” One eager beaver raised his hand and said, “The point is, no matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard you can always fit some more things into it!” “No,” the speaker replied, “that is not the point. The truth this illustration teaches us is that if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them in at all.”

I have illustrated this sermon several times in my career as a Christian Educator to both big and small people. I actually think the children understand the engineering aspect of it more than the grown-ups do. However, when we go back a 2nd time in the experiment, and I label what the “The Big Rocks and the Little Rocks” are…. a very sheepish look crosses the faces of my audience.

This is a lesson about prioritizing what is really important in life. It is not be confused with how many tasks we can multi-manage at once. (As that can also be a waste of time and needless busywork).

Let’s be clear….if we do not fill the void initially with what is really of value, and then place all the little, sort-of meaningless pieces in first, how on earth will we ever fit the real ones when we need to do that? Obviously the “Big Rocks” are of different value to us all. Some will place hopefully God, Family, Friends, Marriage, and perhaps Education initially. (Then the second layers could look more like vacations, trips, money, sports, shopping, etc). However for others, it may look initially more like Wealth, Power, Fame and Status, (then maybe God, Friends, family, trips, etc). And in the end, we must decide how we feel when our life is filled with the rocks we need or want.

What if you select Option B …The Money/Power/Status life? Surely, when you move on to the next set of medium rocks they will have to do with supporting the life of your Big Rocks. Which then would need to do that, perhaps, Expensive Cars, Fine Clothing, Country Clubs and the like? If you can imagine your life as the contents of this particular jar, then the time after it becomes slim pickings for where the other lesser sized items shall fit…Friends, Family, and HOPEFULLY God. Think of God, in this scenario as the sand... or the water… the last choice and final addition, as it doesn’t require much space to you… the cars, homes and wealth are occupying those larger areas. How on earth could God work in our life if God needs to meander his way into the nooks and crannies of our life???

We are told that God knows all things. The Bible is clear that God has a plan for each of us. But, God also loves us so much that he gives us the free will to choose our big rocks. It is up to us if we choose to fill our lives with our plan, or God’s. September is like our 2nd New Year; I sometimes say that to the children. And as a new year begins for the lives of our children, and their families, you may want to fill up a jar at home some night with your family after dinner and see where your Big Rocks will lie for this school year ahead of us! Remember when you make the first of the Big Rocks, God, then anything else you place in the jar is merely a blessing of God’s and that is already waiting for your enjoyment. When God is first, there is enough room for all that matters!!!

Happy New Year,
Miss Dawn