F I R E !
It never ends. Before you can put one fire out, there are others burning out of control on opposite ends of the house.
Add to this the raging fire that is constantly burning right in the middle of the living room, and the ones other people bring you to put out for them.
That's the way it is in this life.
The cure, of course, is to just say "No," then go ahead and experience the guilt you are sure to feel. And if you don't feel guilty, those you say no to will do all they can to make sure you do.
Then, learn to focus. Decide what YOUR priorities are, and keep them in front of you.
Of course you already know this. It's not the knowing what to do, it's the doing what you know to do that is the problem.
Oh well, that no one can help you with.
However.
If you are a Christian, there might be certain other elements to the blazes than just that of our own making, and the fuel added by others.
We have an enemy who likes nothing better than to keep us occupied in directions that do not hinder him or his purposes.
And if you have a desire to help the Church, or have been given a duty to perform by the Lord, our enemy will work even harder making sure fires of all sizes come your way.
But being a Christian, you have an advantage; there is a manual at your disposal that has instructions for putting out fires, and also to aid in keeping focused.
Fires are some of the Thorns and Thistles that Jesus warned us about that choke out our desire to serve Him.
Mat 13: 7And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: & 22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
Others, like our ego, anger, inappropriate conversation and thoughts are easier to recognize and admit. But putting out fires seem so important and unselfish. In fact, they seem so right that to not chase them seems evil and selfish to us, and cause us to feel guilty if we do otherwise.
And of course that is just what our enemy wants us to believe.
However, Jesus, the one we should be listening to had some strong words to say in this regard:
Luke 14: 33So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
("Hate" also has an extended meaning, and that is to "love less.")
9: 62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
Christians are, or certainly should be in the process of "letting go" so that the Holy Spirit can do His work in us.
Fires have a way of making us do just the opposite. Instead of letting go, we think we can, and should handle problems that come up before us. And since they are so close, they appear to be much larger than are the real jobs we have shoved behind, and that we should be handling.
We desire to be Overcomers,
Rev 21: 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
But instead, no matter how hard we try, the fires never cease and cause us to feel defeated and bitter.
Heb 12: 13And make straight paths for your feet,
15Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
But what should we do about the fires?
Maybe nothing.
Consider what would happen with all those fires if you were not there to put them out. What if you were to become very sick? (which just might happen if you continue chasing fires. Stress takes a heavy tole on a person). What would happen to the fires then?
Try putting the fires behind Jesus and those things He has called you to do. How big do they look now?
Then consider what you might say to Jesus if He asked you if you would rather be a fireman, or one of His disciples. (Matt Chapter 19).
