I Can Accomplish More By Doing Less

In review of 1 Corinthians 6:12 it says, “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say — but not everything is beneficial”

Bottom Line:

You may have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial

What this means to me:

While I may be able to do anything, not everything is good for me. I should especially not allow myself to become a slave of it.

Today's verse comes from 1 Corinthians 6 where Paul speaks in particular regarding avoiding sexual sin. He starts by saying that while we are allowed to do anything, not everything is good for us. We should be careful to not become slave to it. We can't say that our bodies were made for whatever we want. In reality our bodies were made for the Lord and he cares about them and what we do with them.

While the context Paul was speaking of relates to sexual immorality it’s also helpful for realizing that I can’t keep doing all kinds of things and filling up my schedule. I must periodically prune the activities I engage in.

Gardeners prune trees and plants for the health of the plant and for fruitfulness in the next season. If there’s no pruning, there will be no fruitfulness in the next season.

Every year, I sprout new activity branches. I’m doing some things now that I didn’t do a year ago. I’ve added them on. But I need to consider what have I cut out or pruned in exchange? I can’t just keep adding and adding to my schedule without cutting back, without pruning my overall activities.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “‘I have the right to do anything,’ you say — but not everything is beneficial” (NIV).

God has given me a free will and with it I permitted to do anything. Which means that I can go out and overload my schedule 10 times over, and God’s not going to stop me. But it doesn’t mean it’s the beneficial thing to do.

I will have to learn to say “no” far more than I say “yes.” I cannot do all the good things in life. Since I can’t do everything, I need to determine what are the right things to do. What are the things that God wants me to do with my time and energy?

Selection is the key to being effective. I’ll be more effective if I figure out what I’m not going to do as well as what I’m going to do.

If I don’t periodically prune the activities in my life, God will do the pruning for me. It will happen through an illness, crisis or something, because I cannot live beyond my limits month after month (and I’ve experience this before.)

Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (GNT). But no matter how bad things may seem, I can know for sure that God always has my best in mind. I tend to think I can do why more than is realistic.

Today I will consider why is it so difficult for me to admit that I have limitations?

Developing A Plan

In review of Proverbs 13:16 it says, “Sensible people always think before they act, but stupid people advertise their ignorance”

Bottom Line:

Be wise and think ahead, don’t act and show your foolishness.

What this means to me:

The sensible and wise thing for me to do would be to think before I act (have a plan). A foolish person won’t, they will even advertise and expose their ignorance.

I’m reminded this morning that If I want to achieve the goals I’ve set for myself, I’ll need a plan to get from where I am to where I want to go. I’ll need a plan to overcome the expected problems I’ll face on that journey. Without a plan, all my goals will go up in smoke.

Genesis 24 tells the story of Eliazar’s ingenious plan to find a wife for his master’s son, Isaac. Eliazar had two major obstacles to fulfilling this goal. Where would he find a wife for Isaac in his master’s homeland? And how was he going to find a high character woman without observing her long term? Eliazar devised a predetermined plan to solve both of these problems.

First, Eliazar went to a place where women gathered in those days, a well. He had much higher odds of finding a wife at that well than any other place he could have gone.

And, Eliazar knew exactly how to get the type of wife he wanted for Isaac. He wanted to find a compassionate woman, so he looked for someone who would offer to draw up to 15 gallons of water for each of his 10 camels. That’s a lot of water!

Eliazar didn’t fly by the seat of his pants to accomplish his goal. Instead he prayerfully established a plan, and, ultimately, he was successful. In doing so he proved what the Bible says in Proverbs 13:16: “Sensible people always think before they act, but stupid people advertise their ignorance” (TEV).

Good planning, whether that plan is for my family, my work, my ministry, or a different area of my life will have three parts to it:

1. Steps: I’ll need to establish how I’m going to get from where I am now to where I want to go. Write down those steps.

2. Deadlines: Put a date with every one of those steps. A goal is a statement of faith as I say that I believe God wants me to accomplish my goal by a particular date.

3. Schedule: Write those dates into my calendar. Don’t just hide it in a filing cabinet or up on a shelf. If I showed others what was on my calendar, they could tell what’s important to me.

Studies show that only 5 percent of Americans have written down goals for their lives. Those same studies show that the same 5 percent are the highest wage earners in the U.S. Successful people set their direction and go for it. Unsuccessful people drift. Life just happens to them. They don’t have any goals. They don’t know where they’re going in life. At the end of 2016, it’s just another year down the drain.

In order to not have that situation, I need to be more concrete in developing a plan to reach my goals.

As I think about these three parts, I think I struggle most with just solidifying a goal for my life. For the most part I tend to plan, schedule and keep to deadlines at work. I just don’t incorporate these into my personal life as much. I need to just keep them in a place where I can review them frequently and keep them at the forefront of my mind. With focus I can strive toward the goal or re-adjust dates as needed.  The problem without not having a plan and schedule is you’ll never know when you get there.

I believe God honors having well planned out goals. It’s making the best use of my time to accomplish something and not just drift through life.

Learning To Un-stuff My Schedule

In summary of Proverbs 16:9 it says, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

Bottom line:

You may make your plans, but God directs your actions.

What this means to me:

I think that I’m making my own plans however God is really directing what happens. Somehow God sees everything even the choices I make with my free will and he works it all into his plans. I have no idea how he does this. But is it good to know that God is in control. So what can I do to somewhat “un-stuff” my schedule. All too frequently I get to the end of the day and think “wow, did I accomplish anything worthwhile today?” Where did the time all go? Ultimately If I don’t end up mastering and controlling my schedule it will end up mastering me. God’s word suggests several things to help reduce the stress of my schedule and in turn increase my margin. First, I need to be sure to line up my priorities -- I don't have time to do everything, so I must make choices and decide what's really important and what isn't. Part of this is considering the overall direction of my life. The Bible says, "An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions" (Proverbs 17:24 GNT); "It is stupid to waste time on useless projects" (Proverbs 12:11 GNT); "We should make plans - counting on God to direct us" (Proverbs 16:9 LB). Next, lighten up my attitude -- I really do not have to do everything on the to-do list? I’m not being forced and often I look at my list and impose my own stress. The Bible says, "Worry weighs us down . . ." (Proverbs 12:25 MSG); "A relaxed attitude lengthens a man's life" (Proverbs 14:30 LB); "Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time" (Proverbs 17:22 GNT). Lastly, look up to God -- Stress should always a warning light or indicator that I've taken my focus off God and I’m now looking at my problems from your limited viewpoint. Overall, the single greatest cause of stress in my life is from taking myself too seriously and not taking God seriously enough!