The Tyranny Of The Urgent - The Christian Online Magazine

The Christian Online Magazine -

There just doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day for any of us anymore. We leave a trail of unfinished tasks. We find ourselves working more and enjoying it less and less. But, is our real problem TIME? With the exception of the one day that God made time stand still, there has always been 24 hours in a day. We also are living in a very fast paced society. We have fast this and instant that, this convenience and that convenience.

So, that is our PROBLEM? It is something called “the tyranny of the urgent.”

Tyranny: the unjust and cruel exercise of power of any sort

Urgent: requiring immediate attention, pressing, important

Tyranny of the urgent describes a life that is unjustly run by pressing issues that require immediate attention. It is constantly being bogged down with situations and circumstances that pull for your TIME, and ENERGY. When living under “the tyranny of the urgent” life is a “Rat Race” and we are always behind. Our problem is not one of “time” but one of “priorities.”

We let other people’s demands drive us to a point of frustration, when quite simply we need to learn to “just say no.”
We let urgent things crowd out important things.

The urgent things that call for immediate action put extreme pressure on us every hour of every day. The important things like prayer, studying the Word, encouraging others in the Lord…these are the things that wait.

Is there any escape from “the tyranny of the urgent?” Let’s look at the life of Jesus for that answer. The night before He died He made a claim in John 17: 4 “I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do.” Keep in mind that His ministry was only three years old. There was much to be done yet, teaching, preaching, and miracles of salvation, healing and deliverance. Yet, with confidence and peace He could say, “I have finished the work.”

When we look at the life of Jesus we see a life of:

Perfect timing
Wonderful balance
Being in tune with God

Why were those things present in His life? I believe the answer can be found in Mark 1:35 which says, “In the morning, a great while before day, He rose and went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed.” He talked with His Father.

He prayerfully waited for instructions and strength
He discerned the Father’s will for His life, day by day

As a result He was able to ward off the urgent and accomplish the important. A perfect case and point is that of Lazarus. Jesus received the message that His friend was close to death and that He should go to Him. Yet we see in John 11:6 that He stayed “two more days in the place where He was.” By the time He got to Bethany, the Word says that Lazarus had been in the tomb four days.

§ The urgent thing was the demand for Jesus to go at once and heal Lazarus

§ The important thing was the thing that would have the most lasting impact: RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD

Jesus knew that and He was able to ward off the urgent and accomplish the important. His disciples did not understand it, but He did. Many times when we begin to follow this principle in our lives we will be misunderstood as well. People will want us doing this and that, and they will “apply pressure.”

There are some who will be judging our works and thinking that they do not add up to much. But one day, according to I Corinthians 3:11-14, God’s fire will test each of our works to “see of what sort they are.” Only precious works done in the right spirit will last. Everything else will burn up.

There is a big difference in doing a “good thing” and doing the “right thing.” And, there is a price to be paid in order to do the right thing, but the reward will be so sweet if only we do not give in to the pull of the “urgent.”

One of our greatest dangers as Christians is letting the urgent things crowd out the important. We have been freed of sin yet many of us become slaves to “the tyranny of the urgent.” God has set us free and there is only one way to stay free. John 8:31-32 says, “If you abide in My Word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Remember we already spoke of truth being the center point of our life? Well the only way for truth to reign in our lives is to spend time in the Word of God.

God has promised that if we abide (hold and maintain fellowship, remain) in His Word then He will instruct us concerning the truth. We will know the truth about:

1. What He desires

2. What He expects

3. What He accepts

We will be free from bondage and able to help others be freed from bondage as well. But, we cannot be effective in our lives and ministries if we do not stay plugged in to The Source not only of The One Who has all the answers but also The One Who has the ability to perform what needs to be performed in people’s lives.

Father God, free us from the TYRANNY OF THE URGENT in Jesus Name!