Extra! Extra!

New Years brings a special brand of hope and energy. Many of us choose to express this in the form of resolutions.  And this is about the time those resolutions are falling by the wayside.  Whether the promise was that you would eat less fast food or leave work on time, nearly every resolution boils down to one truth:  My priorities are messed up.
Sometimes it is obvious like the woman who “needs” three hours in front of the mirror every day to put on her face.  The teenager who games more than he studies.  Or the man who spends 90 hours in the office.  They clearly have priority issues.  But a few days ago I found myself wondering how to tell if my priorities stand on par with God’s. 
It can’t just be a straight up measure of time – unless I truly do my job and hobbies for God (as I should).   It can’t just be a measure of monetary investment – unless I truly treat “my” money as God’s money (because it is).  It can’t be just what occupies my thoughts most – unless I do my best on everything for Jesus.  And I confess it is difficult to keep Jesus in focus during everyday activities.   So, I am stuck...
But what about my extras?  What occupies my extra time?  My extra money?  My extra thinking?  The time, money, and mental energy I am free to use however I want – what do I spend it on?  And why do I spend it that way?   Within the answers to those questions lie my true priorities.

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