If Jesus were to come today, what might he say to someone trapped in the time crunch? This adaptation of Mark 10:17-31 might give us an idea.
As Jesus started His way, a man ran up to Him.
Good teacher, the man asked, with a glance at his watch (he had only 10 minutes before his next appointment), what must I do to get eternal life? I could really use more time
Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good except
The mans cell phone rang. Hello? Hey, Sam. Listen, Im, uh, right in the middle of something. Sort of a time-management thing. You gonna be at this number for a while? Great. Ill call you right back.
Jesus waited patiently for the young man to finish the call. Them He said, You know the commandments: Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.
The young man flipped open his planner and began scribbling. Halfway through the list, he stopped writing and looked up, puzzled. Teacher, those things have been on my quadrant two list since I got my first planner. I mean, Ive been doing this stuff since I was a kid. Is that it? What else do I need to do?
Then Jesus looked at him and loved him. One thing you lack, Jesus said. Go, clear your schedule of all your self-important activity. Then come and give all of your time to Me. Let Me order your days. Fill your life with what really matters. Follow Me.
The mans face fell. He glanced again at his watch, closed his planner, and shook his head. He had really hoped this Jesus might give him some great new time-saving tips. But this? He gave Jesus hand a quick shake and said, Hey, maybe we can do lunch sometime. Then he hurried away, for he had a great many things to do and places to go and people to see.
Jesus looked around and said, How hard it is for the busy to enter the kingdom of God!
The disciples were jolted by His words. But Jesus said again, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a busy man to enter the kingdom of God.
The disciples were even more shocked and said to each other, What about the whole Protestant work-ethic thing? Who then can be saved?
Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.
Peter said to him, We have cleared our schedules of everything to follow You!
Jesus smiled and put His arm around Peters shoulder. I tell you the truth, no one who has sacrificed to clear his schedule in order to make room for Me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred fold more time in this present age, and, in the age to come, time without end-and every bit of it brimming over with meaning and significance.
For many who are busy now will have more than enough time on their hands in the day to come (for what is there to do in hell but while away the endless time?), but those who return their time to its rightful owner now will be joyfully occupied for all eternity.
Be constantly taking heed therefore how accurately you are conducting yourselves, not as unwise ones but as wise ones, buying up for yourselves the opportune time, because the days are pernicious. On this account stop becoming those who are without reflection or intelligence, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. (Eph. 5:15-17- Wuest Translation)
+ David W. Henderson Discipleship Journal, January/February, 2005