"Freedom From The Tyrant"
A tyrant, most of us understand, is an oppressive ruler. He may oppress through heavy taxation, or it may be through physical demands - forced servitude. Few of us likely have any direct experience with such an overlord. We are Americans, after all; we live in the land of the free.
But not all tyrants are human, and there is one that thrives in the American culture. His name is "Urgent", and I have often bowed at his feet, despite my frequent resolutions to break free from him.
"The Tyranny Of The Urgent" is the name of a book written by Charles Hummel in 1994. Hummel appears to have struck a nerve with this concept, though he was hardly the first to recognize the problem with which many of us struggle. Stephen R. Covey, in "The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People" (1989) urged readers to recognize the difference between things that are "urgent" and those that are "important". Most of our time, he suggests, is spent chasing urgent matters, though they are seldom important.
Urgent matters might include checking and responding to email throughout the day, or perusing the latest news on social media. Important matters (often neglected) include visiting family and friends, or taking time to read good books. The tyrant often prevents us from doing things we know, deep down, we should be doing.
Was anyone in greater demand than Jesus? In Luke 4, we read of how busy His life was: "When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them" (Luke 4:40). But we read soon after, "Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place" (Luke 4:42).
What would Jesus be doing in a place like that? Almost certainly the same thing He did on a similar occasion. After feeding the 5,000, "Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side ... He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray ..." (Matthew 14:22,23). The busiest Man on earth knew how important it was to nurture His relationship with God. He refused to submit to the tyrant!
Psalm 46:10 speaks powerfully to a culture that attempts to squeeze every second out of the clock hanging over it: "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!." Yes, being still in the presence of God will cut into our Internet and television time. But why must we be so devoted to pursuits that yield so little satisfaction and benefit?!
Perhaps it is time for us to break free from the tyrant who has been controlling our lives.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you'd like to discuss these ideas further.
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