One of the pitfalls to time management is overcommitment. Overcommitment has the illusion of power and significance, but it actually causes people to lose their power over managing their time. In those times, individuals are not able to be led by God anymore instead they are driven and pushed by schedules and commitments.
Recently, I had a conversation with someone who complained about working full time because her employer would not offer her a part time position. Additionally, she had agreed to take on heavy responsibilities at work, which will turn out to be a great source of stress for her. Then, somewhat confidently, she stated that she needs to claim God’s victory over this! I was surprised by her response because from my vantage point this looks like overcommitment. Trying to claim God’s victory over this type of situation, appears superstitious and presumptuous. Unfortunately, in time, this person will begin to feel guilty and stressed because she is not available for her family.
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— Luke 14:28
Here are a few things to think about to avoid overcommitments:
If the Lord is leading you to work part time and you know that with some sacrifices you can make the ends meet, then trust God for His direction. This is particularly important in situations with children at home.
As the above scripture states, Jesus told us to count the cost before we build something. If we jump on a so called “opportunity” because we feel flattered, or it provides a large increase in income, we may be building on sand. If we neglect to count the cost of taking on the commitment, we will have to pay for it by taking valuable time away from the Lord or the people in our lives to compensate for overcommitment.
Seeking the Lord for guidance does not guarantee a peaceful ride. The storms may still come, but, in those instances, we can claim victory because we have been building based on God’s principles and direction. If we just randomly claim victory, we are being presumptuous and will lead to disillusionment.
The consequences of overcommitment is not always seen in the short term. I am concerned for many marriages that operate on overcommitment. For years, things appear to be going very well for couples, but the long term consequences of overcommitment can affect the children and/or the marriage. Because people have not invested as much time in their families, when difficulties come or children leave home, the couples don’t find much interest in each other. A recent article stated that “gray divorce” is on the rise. These are individuals who have been married for decades but now they don’t find much in common with each other. Have our accomplishments become more important than those we love and cherish?
To steward our time well, it requires believing God and trusting Him with His direction and priorities. He will give us the time we need to accomplish everything He desires, and we don’t have to overcommit to make it happen.
