I should rest but …….
On the 25th October 2009 Astro featured the live match between Manchester United and Liverpool. I watched the last 20 minutes of the game and witnessed the final goal Liverpool shot pass the Manchester United’s goalkeeper. I was delighted with the 2-0 final result against MU but there is a price I paid. By the time I get to bed it was almost midnight and it took me sometime to finally fall asleep.
Well, you might say, this is normal. Yeah, I might say. On that particular day, I was ministering in FGA-North then together with my wife we adjourned to Chinese Recreation Club for 2 hours of badminton. Later in the evening attends a birthday celebration. Physically I can feel that I am tired. I need rest. I activated my computer and read mails and go into Facebook to enjoy some of the comments. I saw a friend on line so I did a online chat. I should rest but …..
The next day I learned some valuable life lessons through this incident.
The next day, I had to be in office early to attend some important paperwork but I had to force myself out of bed. I have a job to attend and to do it well because I am paid to do a good job. By three in the afternoon I could hardly keep my eyes open. It was so embarrassing to keep yawning when I hold a discussion with my client. I was tired and sleepy. I could not give 100% concentration. I took an early leave from office and when I reached home I slumped on the sofa and took a nap. I could not hold a good conversation with my wife. I just wanted to take a nap. I was just too tired and sleepy. Is it because of work? No, simply because I had my priorities wrong.
I was awaken to a simple truth … my priorities was messed up.
Some of the lessons I learned and I would like to share with you,
1. UNDERSTANDING PRIORITIES
a. As an employee, I am paid to do a job by my employer and it is expected of me to give my best. Anything short of best is not only I short changed my employer I am also dishonoring God because whatever I do I do it unto the glory of God just as scripture admonished us.
b. Failure to give my best has negative consequences especially in this competitive job market. How can I expect the best from the company when I am giving second or third grade work? If I am giving my best to the company who failed to recognize my good work, I am sure others will take notice of you. It is unlikely company failed to reward good conscientious worker.
c. As a businessman, my client expects me to offer him my attention. If I am “sleepy” not able to deliver excellent service to my client why should he retain my services? If I lose his business I have no one to blame except myself
d. As a husband, my family would like to enjoy a sense of togetherness and belonging the rest of day before retiring to bed. The home should not be treated as a “hotel” for sleeping. My wife should not be treated like a servant, wash the cloths, cook the meal and look after the children. If I continue to mess up my priorities I can foresee grave consequences resulting from my senseless lack of understanding concerning my priorities.
2. UNDERSTANDING PLEASURE & PRIORITIES
a. Pleasure is a gift from God. He said to Adam to enjoy every all the fruits in the garden with the exception of one.
b. If pleasure takes precedent over priorities, watch out because you are heading for troubles. As for me the pleasure to finish the soccer match when my body is shouting to me to rest is a bad choice. I should listen to my body. It is absolutely important for my body to gain sufficient rest so that I can give the needed attention to my job, client and family. My bad choice is “pleasure” took over my priorities. The negative consequences are obvious.
c. I asked myself, “By staying awake till the game is over or go to bed before the game ended, do you think the end result will be different? Does Liverpool know that you sacrifice your much needed rest for them?” My pleasure interfered with my priorities. This I found myself total lack of discretion.
3. UNDERSTANDING PHYSICAL WELLNESS IS IMPORTANT
a. If I continue to allow “pleasure” to take precedence over priorities I not only hurt my career and family, it is highly possible that in the long run I will hurt my body.
b. As a Christian, I must maintain wellness in spirit, soul and body. Physical wellness is important. If I enjoy a certain food but I know that it can hurt my health I should exercise self control or temperance.
c. I am wonderfully and marvelously made just as the Psalmist said. So, it is my duty not to abuse my body with extreme eating, rest when I should and exercise when I need to.
I am not asking you to kill even the simple pleasures of life. The lesson I learned is if I allow pleasure to take precedence over priorities then I lacked wisdom. I can be excellent as God intended me to be but failed because I have allowed pleasure to distract me to be one.
The pleasure I mentioned is “watching a soccer match” but if you replaced it with what your own, I think you can relate what I am saying here. For example, if coming to church on Sunday morning is your priority what is the “pleasure” that robbed this from you? What about the pleasure that robbed your priority to your children? Wife? Job? Parent? Health? And so forth. The moment you recognize this, you will be set free.
I should rest but …..
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