Work. Family. Home. Physical and spiritual health. Household chores. Taking care of others. Taking care of yourself. Shopping. Paying bills. Time for prayer and meditation. Time for helping others. How do you find balance in your life?

In his book, First Things First, Steven Covey shared the story of The Big Rocks. He tells of an expert who addressed a class of business students, using a visual illustration that conveys an important life lesson for all of us. Taking a one-gallon wide-mouthed canning jar, he placed in it a dozen or so fist sized rocks, asking the students if the jar is full. Most of the class said, “Yes!”

He then pulled out a bucket of gravel and dumped most of the contents into the jar, shaking it until the gravel filled the empty spaces between the big rocks. “Is the jar full now?” he asked the class, to which they replied, “Probably not.”

Pulling out a bucket of sand, he proceeded to pour it in, allowing the sand to fill the spaces between the gravel and the big rocks. “Is it full now?” he asked. “No!” came the reply of the students.

Then he grabbed a pitcher of water and poured it in until the jar was filled all the way to the top. “What is the point of this illustration?” he asked the group of over-achievers. One student replied, “The point is that no matter how full your schedule is you can always fit more things into it.” “No,” replied the expert. “The truth of this illustration is that if you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never get them all in at all.”

What are the big rocks in your life? A special work or house project? Vacation plans? Your favorite hobbies? Or do the big rocks represent time for your faith, your family, and friends? Do you have a world view that is bigger than your own life? Whatever your big rocks are, be sure to put those first in your agenda, or you likely will not get to them at all.

Ephesians 5:15-16
Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.