We live in a busy world. Sometimes, by necessity.
Usually, by choice.
How are Christians supposed to navigate a world that seems to eat up so much of our time?
Here's some guidance from the book of Leviticus...
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Leviticus 3:12-16 - “If his offering is a goat, then he shall offer it before the LORD 13 and lay his hand on its head and kill it in front of the tent of meeting, and the sons of Aaron shall throw its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 Then he shall offer from it, as his offering for a food offering to the LORD, the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 15 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 16 And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD’s."
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Here we have instruction on giving sacrifices to the Lord, and what guidance does the Lord give the people?
"All fat is the Lord's."
What does that mean?
Well, the fat was the best part. It was the juiciest, choicest parts of the meat.
To give God the fat was to give God the best.
We fill our lives up either with the things that the world tells us we must do. Or the things that we think our life needs or our kids need.
Busy. Busy. Busy.
And God often gets what's left over.
But God doesn't want the leftovers in our life. God is supposed to get the best.
God gets the fat.
Is that what you're giving to God with your life? Are you giving him the first cut? The choicest parts?
In your time, do you give God whatever time remains in the busy schedule that you've made for yourself? Job. Hobbies. Sports. Kids activities. Oh, and some time here for God (if this other stuff doesn't come and take that too). Or does God have first priority? Is his part untouchable?
How about with finances? Have you strapped yourself so much on all other spending that you don't even have the money to give God what you know he deserves? You don't have money for God but you do for Netflix or cell phones or internet or a newer car? Because, well, you've got to have those things. Is something as small of even 10% beyond your reach because of how you've decided to spend the other 90+%? Are the leftovers your giving God shrinking more and more because there's so much you've just God to have and God will get whatever pennies remain?
God doesn't want your leftovers. He demands the best.
Is that what you're giving to God?
Mark off parts of your time and label them - "For God's use only". And let yourself and the world know that this time cannot be taken by anything less than your God.
Take the first part of that paycheck and write "God's" on it so that the world doesn't even get a chance to take a bite out.
In your day. In your marriage. In your parenting. In your job choice. In your church life. In your thoughts. In your speech. In everything.
In every area, make sure you're giving God your best.
Don't give him the scraps.
Give him the best.
Give God the fat.