Life is busy. It is so easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day affairs of life that we overlook the important things.
Perhaps you have heard the following illustration. A professor brought a jar into class into which he filled with several large rocks. As he tried to put just one more big rock in the jar, he asked the class if the jar was full. They replied yes. Continuing the illustration, he pulled out a container of smaller rocks and began to add them to the jar. Shaking the jar and allowing the smaller rocks to filter in between the large rocks, it again appeared full. He asked the class again if the jar was full. Many said yes but were a bit more cautious with their answer. The professor took a container of sand and as before, poured the sand into the jar around the rocks. When it was full, he again inquired as to whether the jar was full. The class was hesitant to reply now. He continued by pouring water into the jar until it was indeed full. Asking the class for the lessons to be learned brought many responses. The object of the lesson was simple yet profound. In life make sure you put the big rocks in first. Because if you fill up the jar with the little things first, there will be no more room for the big things.
David expressed a similar thought in Psalm 27:4.
One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life.
One thing. The main thing.
Matthew rendered the thought in Matthew 6:33.
But seek first the kingdom of GOD and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
If we keep our priorities in order, if we put the big rocks in first, GOD tells us He will add the other things. It is a lesson in priorities. The desire is to keep the main thing, the main thing.
The big rocks in life are those of eternal significance. This is the main thing. Let us fill our lives with those things before we let the little things crowd them out.