To Whom Much is Given

The bible says, "To whom much is given, much is required." This statement is so simple yet so profound. I think it's fairly easy to apply this proverb to money and food, as they're probably the two things that come to mind first. However, this mantra should also be applied to our time and talent.

Anyone who knows me, knows I value my time and schedule about as much as I value a pair of football season tickets; HIGHLY. As a friend put it to me the other day, "if you don't value your time who will." Who should if I don't? There will always be demands on your time from different areas in your life. Due to my profession and ambitions, there are a lot of them, and at times they overlap and conflict with my personal life. To remedy this, I put everything on my calendar. That includes work, meetings, drinks with a friend, the Dolphins' football schedule, even shows I want to watch. Is it a little obsessive? I wouldn't be surprised if you said yes, because I've heard it before. But it's how I ensure I have time to do everything that needs to get done.

The point is—is that we're required to give of our time; to family, friends, children, strangers, to somebody, somewhere who isn't us. This can be volunteering at a homeless shelter, coaching little league sports, reading to the elderly or mentoring or something totally different. It is true money does make the world go round and it is very necessary for important things such as AIDS research, improving our education system and food. However, time to many people is more important. It’s invaluable and puts you face-to-face with the cause in a way signing a check or swiping a debit card doesn’t.

Things at work have been terribly difficult as of late for a number of reasons; a new judge, a new courtroom partner, difficult cases and situations which have arisen lately. While I admit things have been challenging, nothing has been impossible and I take some joy in that. My initial reaction though was to get down and sink into this funk, which took a lot of time, effort (and alcohol) to get out of. The other day I was catching up with a friend on facebook telling her how bad things have been as of late. She said something that resonated in me. She said, “To whom much is given.” And immediately when I read the statement, I knew it was meant for me. I knew that it meant that I had to stop complaining, take the hardships as opportunities for greatness and get on my J-O-B.

There has rarely ever been a doubt in my mind that I’m destined for greatness, because I know “this too shall pass.” However, the journey to this “greatness” hasn’t always been so clear and I think it rarely is, if at all, for most people. But what I do know is that to handle the big things in life you have to be able to deal with the little things. How can God expect you to deal with millions of dollars if you’re having trouble dealing with the hundreds or thousands you have now? How can I say I can lead when I don’t know how to follow? It’s impossible. With this post comes a new revelation that I’m blessed and highly favored and that I have to do the best I can with what I have before expecting more and you should do the same. Stay up, Stay Blessed, Stay Motivated!