Embracing Foresight and Setting Priorities
Over the past two weeks, we have explored two barriers to effective communication: (1) reaching maximum capacity and (2) unhitched emotions. Today, we will examine another barrier: poor organisation.
What is organisation? The essence of organisation is to "make arrangements for something to happen" (Cambridge Dictionary). In other words, a person who is organised is a planner.
What are some marks of an organised person? Let me share two today:
First, an organised person embraces foresight —the ability to think ahead and make plans. This is not only secular wisdom but an esteemed virtue in the Bible.
Proverbs 6:6-8:
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
The ant is a creature marked by foresight. In the winter, their body temperature drops before they enter into hibernation. Since ants become slack and slow-moving in the cold, they use the warmer months to gather food for future survival.
Therefore let us go to the ant. The wise leader learns from them. They think ahead. They map out their long-term goals. Their eyes are set on deadlines. They think about what they need to achieve.
The alternative to foresight is to live day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. The fruit is ultimately mediocrity—or, in the ants case, death. Without foresight, we constantly scramble from task to task, living a reactive life.
Rushed decisions.
Heightened stress.
Ministry resentfulness.
These often are the symptoms of minimal foresight.
But it does not need to be your experience. All you need to do is make organisation a value and then pre-decide to be organised—to calendar your life, to set clear deadlines, and to think ahead.
Second, an organised person knows what to prioritise. Priority is all about determining what is most important and focusing your efforts on those areas first.
Proverbs 24:27:
Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.
The verse contains two projects: a smaller project (the fields) and a bigger project (the house). One task comes “after” the other.
Here is the wisdom: only until you can provide for a family ("get your fields ready") can you start a family ("build your house"). In other words, to build a house, you must first prioritise having a basic income.
In fact, this is a wisdom for all of life: prioritise the basics before taking on bigger responsibilities.
To become an influential preacher, first, learn to prioritise leading high-impact Bible studies that transform your teens.
To become an excellent camp director, first, learn to prioritise crafting unforgettable youth segments with team members.
To become a weapon for Jesus Christ, first, learn to prioritise the means of grace: prayer, scripture, and fellowship.
This is wisdom for effective gospel work. Know what to prioritise at the right moment and the right time. Don’t build the house before you prepare the field.
What are two marks of an organised leader? They think ahead and know their priorities. They are the type of people who lead with a vision, overcome mediocrity, and make a lasting impact. An organised leader is a weapon in the hands of God.