Song of Solomon 1:6: “…they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.”
Outside pressures, urgencies, and distractions can prevent us from tending to “the vineyards of others” and neglecting our “own vineyard.”
Paul commanded Timothy to “Keep that which is committed to thy trust” (I Timothy 6:20). God had entrusted certain things to Timothy, and he was told to “Keep your vineyard!”
It is easy to get distracted from the things that matter most in life, but staying focused on the right things requires effort.
We all know stories of people who were “successful” in one area of life to the detriment of what mattered most. They climbed the success ladder to the top of the wrong building!
The New Year is an excellent time to 1.) Meditate on our God-given responsibilities 2.) Prioritize “the keeping of our vineyard.”
Identifying Your Vineyard
For example, here are some of my roles and responsibilities: Christian – I have a personal walk with God to develop and maintain. Husband – I alone have this place in my wife’s life. Father – I alone have this place in my children’s life. Church/Pastor – I have a church family and serve them as a pastor. Son – I have parents to honor. Brother – I have two siblings to love. Friend – God has given me friends to encourage and help.
What are the God-given roles in your life? In which roles are you irreplaceable?
** Considering and prioritizing your God-given roles and responsibilities will help us develop a map or GPS to guide our priorities: goals, calendars, and time in 2025.
“Keep” Your Vineyard
Everyone has limited time to invest at work, home, church, and play. We must invest our time wisely by prioritizing and scheduling (implementing & executing).
On average, most people spend less time at home than at work. Therefore, home time must be quality time. Enjoying one another’s company with good communication and building memories is not likely to happen while watching TV, looking at our phones, or playing video games (notice how these activities occur without planning). However, building something together, playing games, having family devotions, and going on date nights will undoubtedly be the better investments of our time (this only happens on purpose).
Example: Shepherding is my calling as a pastor. If I spend all my time putting out peripheral fires and neglect feeding and tending the flock, I will ultimately fail in the ministry. We must know our YES so we can say NO to distractions.
Priority prompts: How is my time best spent at work, home, and play? In what area of my career or job do I bring the most value? How can I make investing time with my family and friends more beneficial?
For more about this subject, watch: “FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR PLANNING YOUR NEW YEAR”