Do you like to do experiments? Here is one anybody can try. You need two jars the same size, glass or plastic, that you can see through. Fill one jar with rocks about the size of a large chicken egg, but they can be any shape. Fill the other jar about 2/3 of the way up with sand or loose dirt. Now see how many of the rocks from the rock jar you can fit into the jar holding the sand. When I tried, I was able to fit in three.
Now put the rocks that are on top of the sand back into their own jar with the rest of the rocks, and then begin pouring the sand into the rock jar too. You’ll have to shake the sand down a little. How much sand are you able to fit into the jar with the rocks? I was able to fit almost all the sand into mine.
Let’s apply this experiment to you and me, and it doesn’t matter if we are young or old. The sand represents the things we need to do every day: eat, drink, dress ourselves, go to school or work, ride bikes, play ball, read a good book or visit with friends. The rocks represent what God wants us to put first in our lives: trust the Lord Jesus to wash away our sins, read our Bibles, spend time in prayer and do kind things for other people.
If you do the things you need and like to do first, the things God wants you to do will be mostly left out. It’s like filling the jar with the sand first and then trying to fit the rocks in. But like the second part of the experiment, if you do the things God wants you to do first, you’ll find that most of the other things will fit into your life as well. That’s why we’re told, “Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:3333But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)), “for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things” (vs. 32).
I did have some sand left over that didn’t fit in with the rocks. If that’s the way it is in my life, perhaps some of the things I’m doing are not pleasing to the Lord at all. I need to listen to what He tells us in Hebrews 12:1212Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (Hebrews 12:12): “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.”
ML-02/27/2000