What's Important Enough?

I attended a time management seminar a number of years ago, led by a highly successful former NCAA basketball coach. The coach tried to help us clarify what was most important to us in life. He said, "Lets pretend theres a 140 foot I-beam laying on the ground that's 9 inches wide and the top of the beam is about l2 inches off the ground. Let's say that I'm standing on one end with a $100 dollar bill and you're standing at the other. Now how many of you would be willing to come get that $100 if all you had to do was walk down that I-beam to have it?" Well everybody raised their hand.

Then he said, "Now let's hook that I-beam to a helicopter and lift it up between the twin towers at the World Trade Center in New York City (This was before their tragic collapse) . They're about 138 feet apart, so because of this long expanse, the I-beam is sagging a little bit. It's windy up at that altitude. There's snow and a sleet coming down. How many of you would walk across the I-beam now for that $100 bill?" Nobody raised their hand. "How about for a $1000?" Nobody raised their hand. "How about for $10,000?" Nobody raised their hand.

Then he pointed to a woman and he said, "Do you have any kids?" And she said, "I have a 2 year old." He said, "What if I was holding your 2 year old on the other end of that beam? Would you be willing to come then?" She said, "I would run across that beam!" And the coach said, "What youre willing to walk across the I-beam for tells you what your priorities are."

What would you walk across the beam for?

"Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you." -1st Samuel 12:24-25 (ESV)