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Hooked on Urgency
'There is a time for everything.' Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
Urgency is stressful. It's also addictive and, if you find yourself habitually reacting to outside demands, you may be 'hooked'. Like any addiction, urgency temporarily meets your need to feel needed. It creates a sense of 'getting things done', falsely enhances your self-esteem, yet tends to make problems worse because mostly 'haste makes waste'. If you're hooked on urgency, here are two things to consider:
(1) in today's society, busyness equals status. People expect you to be in demand. But while constantly abandoning your goals to help others accomplish theirs may make you feel appreciated, it can sidetrack you from your real purpose and create in you a false sense of importance. The Bible says, 'God gives ability to all for their particular service.' (1 Corinthians 12:6 GNT) The lion's share of your time should be spent doing what God called you to do, not fulfilling the demands and expectations of others.
(2) identifying your response pattern can help set you free. Sometimes it's hard to say 'no' because as a Christian you feel obligated. But not every 'need' is a directive from God to jump in and meet it! Try to be discerning. Your decision to get involved should come from God, so before you react, pray for wisdom and guidance.
The Bible says, 'In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV) If you're a 'fixer' you probably enjoy solving problems, meeting needs, and influencing behaviour as well as outcomes. That's not necessarily a bad thing. You just need to recognise you're vulnerable to the urgent, and become more priority-minded.
written by Bob Gass
'There is a time for everything.' Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV
Urgency is stressful. It's also addictive and, if you find yourself habitually reacting to outside demands, you may be 'hooked'. Like any addiction, urgency temporarily meets your need to feel needed. It creates a sense of 'getting things done', falsely enhances your self-esteem, yet tends to make problems worse because mostly 'haste makes waste'. If you're hooked on urgency, here are two things to consider:
(1) in today's society, busyness equals status. People expect you to be in demand. But while constantly abandoning your goals to help others accomplish theirs may make you feel appreciated, it can sidetrack you from your real purpose and create in you a false sense of importance. The Bible says, 'God gives ability to all for their particular service.' (1 Corinthians 12:6 GNT) The lion's share of your time should be spent doing what God called you to do, not fulfilling the demands and expectations of others.
(2) identifying your response pattern can help set you free. Sometimes it's hard to say 'no' because as a Christian you feel obligated. But not every 'need' is a directive from God to jump in and meet it! Try to be discerning. Your decision to get involved should come from God, so before you react, pray for wisdom and guidance.
The Bible says, 'In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' (Proverbs 3:6 NKJV) If you're a 'fixer' you probably enjoy solving problems, meeting needs, and influencing behaviour as well as outcomes. That's not necessarily a bad thing. You just need to recognise you're vulnerable to the urgent, and become more priority-minded.
written by Bob Gass
