Lately, I came across an article in HBR titled ‘Management Time: Who’s Got the Monkey?’ In it, one sentence struck a chord with me from Making Time for Gorillas (by Stephen R Covey). This inspired me to write this article.
Frequently, we discover ourselves dedicating the majority of our time to tasks that are urgent but not genuinely important. Nevertheless, in hindsight, those seemingly urgent tasks often diminish in significance and may even appear frivolous when we reflect on our lives.
The concept of categorising activities based on urgency and importance can also align with the Christian way of life as individuals progress through different stages, from singlehood to parenthood.
I have gained new insights through observation and personal encounters. These insights may be considered controversial by some and resonate with you. I hope that they won’t offend anyone. Each stage I discuss will be presented in a generic manner, with no specifics given to protect individual privacy. My main aim is to inspire readers to create their lists for different life stages, as outlined below:
Stage in life | Urgent but not important | Important and Urgent |
Singlehood | Feeling compelled to do things due to societal or peer pressure, like keeping up with the latest trends and social events. | Prioritising acts of kindness, community involvement, and personal spiritual growth. |
Married Life | Overcommitting to social obligations, obsessing over household chores, or seeking immediate financial gratification—activities that may not have a lasting impact on the overall well-being of the marriage. | Maintaining a loving and nurturing relationship with a spouse, as well as practising christian virtues like patience and humility, can be both urgent and important in building a harmonious Christian marriage. |
Parenthood | Providing material possessions or overscheduling their children’s activities, which may not always align with the spiritual values they want to instil. | Prioritising the spiritual upbringing of children, teaching them moral values, and fostering a strong faith foundation can be both urgent and critically important for parents, aligning with Christian principles. |
While it may sound cliché to some, the next stage that typically follows the identification stage is the action plan stage.
Before we embark on the action plan; let us draw wisdom from God’s perspectives on each stage of life.
Here are some Bible verses that highlight God's view of importance and priorities at different stages of life:
Stage in life | Urgent but not important | Important and Urgent |
Singlehood | During your single hood, you might feel societal pressure to conform Galatians 1:10 (KJV) - For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ | For prioritising acts of kindness and personal spiritual growth Matthew 22:39 (KJV) - And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. |
Married Life | Overcommitting to Social Obligations: Galatians 1:10 (NKJV): “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Instead of being overly indulgent in social obligations, this verse reminds us of the importance of prioritising God over pleasing others. Obsessing Over Household Chores:Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV): “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” This verse encourages focusing on what truly matters, rather than being overwhelmed by household obligations. Seeking Immediate Financial Gratification:Proverbs 21:5 (NKJV): “The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.” This verse advises against hasty financial decisions and encourages wise planning for long-term well-being. | For maintaining a loving and nurturing relationship, Ephesians 4:2-3 (KJV) - With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. |
Parenthood | When feeling pressured to over provide material possessions, reflect on Luke 12:15 (NKJV) “ And He said to them,’ Take heed and beware of covetousness for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” This verse serves as a warning against excessively prioritising material possession over spiritual value, emphasising the importance for balance. | For prioritising the spiritual upbringing of children, Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (KJV) - And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. |
As our journeys and circumstances vary, our approaches to addressing urgent and important categories may differ, I encourage each brethren to craft their Eisenhower Matrix with God as their cornerstone.
Last but not least, we must remember that we will stumble along the journey, and we will forever remain a ‘work in progress’ in our pilgrimage with God. However, take heart, knowing that God is continually working with us, guiding us toward spiritual growth and transformation. We are not perfect, but God is actively shaping us into better versions of ourselves as long as we are willing to yield to Him.
Philippians 1:6 (KJV) - Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
I pray that secular cares would not cloud our minds and impair our judgement in discerning the urgent from the important things in our lives.
Ask Myself:
How can individuals effectively prioritise tasks based on urgency and importance?
In what way does the concept of categorising activities align with christian principles?
Have I understood the importance of putting God first?
We can categorise them based on urgency and importance, allowing us to focus on activities that have a lasting impact on their lives rather than those that seem urgent but may not be genuinely important.
The concept of categorising activities that align with christian principles by emphasising the importance of prioritising acts of kindness, personal spiritual growth, and maintaining loving relationships.
You may discuss this with the writer or your Bible class teacher.