I was watching a comedian today. He was a Jewish guy that talked funny. He said that he found it funny how messed up our priorities are. That it costs sixty nine cents to feed a starving child for a day, and $2.99 for a minute of phone sex. For one hour of phone sex, we could feed over two hundred and fifty kids. Of course, he had to put the comedic twist on it and offer a solution: “if we could just get these kids to talk dirty to us.”
It amazes me though where my priorities lie at times. I think most of us could say the same thing; ask yourself how much time you waste (I mean invest in lives) on MSN? Why I buy the clothes I buy and why do I spend as much money as I do keeping my computer upgraded to the best of the best? Why my bookshelf is full of great, hardcover books? Why I’m spending over ten thousand a year to go to school and live in a city that smells? All these things make me worried a little bit. The last time I handed food to someone in need was last September. The last time I helped a widow? I don’t think I really have intentionally done so.
I don’t think this is something to get all uptight about and feel overly guilty about. I do however think that we need to start prioritizing our lives better. I do think that we need to start being better stewards of what God has blessed us with. I realize sex feels good and it great. Is it really worth 250 starving kids though? It’s not just money that we need to be good stewards of either, it’s our time also. Maybe instead of sitting in front of that box that projects images to us we could do something a little more productive. I love video games, but maybe I could add it to my schedule to spend time with that one guy who doesn’t hang out with a lot of people and is really struggling for friends. I love sleeping in till one every day, but maybe going for a prayer walk at twelve would be a better use of that hour.
I don’t write this to heap shame on any of this. I do however sense a challenge coming from this comedian. Maybe our priorities are a little off. This summer I hope to do everything for the glory of God and use my time and money like its God, because it is. So instead of wasting our time and money on quick things that are over in an hour and we are $180 poorer, let us seek to use God’s materials and ourselves like he would want to see them be used.
Hey Nathan, really good message today. I’ve been convicted of similar things myself. Time is such a big thing, it becomes ever so obvious at exam time that I waste a lot of it. Also wanted to say I think your honesty and seeking in your thoughts and comments on other people’s blogs are amazing. You may not think you have it all together -none of us do, but I really see Christ revealed in you and it’s so encouraging! Thanks for being so awesome and a great friend!
“Maybe our priorities are a little off.”
I don’t know who you’re talking to, Nathan, but if you’re addressing Christians in North America, then definitely most of our priorities are way off.