Life is filled with demands. The more you own the more demands upon you. When you take an eternal perspective and consider what really is important and what will have eternal value, that process can reprioritize your daily agenda. What will you have for eternity? Basically nothing but relationships and memories. How do you prioritize your relationships? Do you often put relationships after your comfort or ‘need’ to accomplish your daily agenda? Yes I know there are pressing needs — like being able to pay the bills, so that everyone can live, but is it really out of faithfulness and obedience that you are doing your daily agenda or is it driven out of your fear of not having enough to provide? Who do you really trust as your … source of income? Maybe quickly moving into your daily agenda is because that’s easier than dealing with a relationship that is going through a difficult time? Maybe learning that your real Source is greater than your fear is a need in your spiritual growth.
If you’re an introvert like myself its always easier NOT to deal with lots of relationships. If you’re like me you have to be reminded by the Holy Spirit to ENGAGE in relationships. But when you think of heaven and eternity it really will be all about who we spend it with. Obviously we will celebrating with our Lord, and enjoying the Presence of the Holy Spirit as never before, as well as observing in wonder the awesome Presence of the Father Creator. But then to be with all of our friends and loved ones, exploring the incredible Kingdom of heaven and His creation beyond will be much of what we will be doing together.
Now especially as time begins to speed up in the here and now— the opportunities to be in fellowship with certain relationships will be vital. In any crisis who is it that are your biggest help and comfort? Who will come at 3am in the morning to help you? Certainly we have circles of intimacy and trust with the people in our connections. Who would be in your top 3 to 5 closest friends? Who would be in the next level of 5 to 20? And then there are those who are that circle just in the outer ring. Many extroverts might have difficulty with those last few questions. Just think of you could call at 4am to come to help you, and if that person would actually come. How many would that be? Also if you have several in that list that you don’t spend significant time with maybe you’re not carrying your end enough in that relationship.
All of this balancing and time issue obviously must be put before the Holy Spirit as you begin each of your days. Listening to Him about which relationships to invest in — that day. Asking what He wants you to do FOR THEM rather than what you are thinking.
What occupies your day, your agenda or your relationships?
For us introverts that question is a bit uncomfortable. I know the Holy Spirit continues to push me deeper into relationship.
What about you?