Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 3:00 — 4.1MB)
Put yourself in this situation: You are at the job working and a coworker wants to talk about a personal problem. You want to listen and show compassion, but the conversation is on company time, and it’s beginning to get lengthy. You have work to do and yet you don’t want to be unkind or uncaring to this friend who is hurting. What do you do? Sometimes we face priority conflicts where it seems that doing one right thing will cause us to do something that isn’t right.
One listener wrote me about his particular dilemma. He is a foreman with several men working for him. Quoting him, “In my position, I often find it hard to strike a balance between being firm enough with my men to lead them, and being a servant to them; also to serve others in the company (such as the unbelievers) without compromising the use of my time and/or resources. I want to be a servant, but I also must get the job done; I desire to be an example of Christ-likeness, but the things that I often feel I must do in situations seem harsh.”
Often our duties and responsibilities seem in opposition to what we would like to do and think we should do as a Christian. How do we deal with these conflicting priorities?
Well, I don’t pretend to have all the answers here. It’s a good idea to be cautious when anyone is quick to give you pat answers. Have you ever wondered why God allows us to face what seems like conflicting priorities?
I believe it’s because these are the things which keep us on our knees, going back to God time and again with each particular situation, asking for guidance. These are the predicaments that remind us of how weak and helpless we are on our own. I think I could easily become very cocky and self-assured if I thought I knew exactly what I should do at every decision point in my life. But so often I’m driven to desperation by what looks like an impossible decision, and that brings me just where I should be, begging God to guide me and help me.
So, we can see how God uses conflicting priorities and decisions for good. I’d like to share with you some thoughts that may help in choosing between conflicting priorities.