Big Rocks

Jesus’ most famous sermon comes to us from Matthew 5–7, where he talks about everything from prayer and fasting to giving, forgiveness, and worry. After reminding his listeners not to worry about material things because God is our provider, Jesus concludes that section with these words:“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” — Matthew 6:33

In other words, get your priorities straight, and everything else will find its proper place. This reminds me of one of my favorite illustrations about managing our time and priorities: the “big rocks” analogy. It goes something like this: Imagine you have a pile of different sized rocks and a jar, and your challenge is to fit them all inside. If you start with the small rocks, you’ll eventually run out of room before you can fit in the big ones. But if you start with the big rocks and then work your way down to the smaller ones, everything fits. The smaller rocks simply find their place in the spaces around the larger ones.

It’s a simple analogy, but it makes an important point: the smaller things in life will always find a way to take up space. If we let them, they can easily crowd out the things that matter most. But when we put the big things first—time with God, time with family, rest, and the things that fill our souls and give us life—the smaller things can find their rightful place around them. That’s essentially what Jesus is inviting us to do. Seek first what matters most, and trust God with the rest.

So as you look at the week ahead, ask yourself: What are your “big rocks”? Are they getting your first and best attention, or are they being crowded out by the little rocks?