What do you think?
Rate this book
Christian Basics Bible Studies
Priorities: Tyranny of the Urgent
Have you ever wished for a thirty-hour day? Does your list of unfinished tasks--unanswered letters, unvisited friends, unread books--grow larger and larger each week? If so, you desperately need relief. Six studies drawn from Charles Hummel's Tyranny of the Urgent will help you put your life back in order by focusing on God's "to do" list instead of your own.
63 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
About the author
Charles E. Hummel
22 books15 followersCharles Edward Hummel was a writer, president of Barrington College, and director of faculty ministries at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Hummel received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his M.S. in chemical engineering from MIT, and his M.A. from Wheaton College. He worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship from 1956 to 1965. From 1965 to74, he was president of Barrington College. In 1975 he became director of faculty ministries for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Hummel received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, his M.S. in chemical engineering from MIT, and his M.A. from Wheaton College. He worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship from 1956 to 1965. From 1965 to74, he was president of Barrington College. In 1975 he became director of faculty ministries for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
December 7, 2016
No one was in more demand than Jesus. Someone who can heal will be constantly followed, mobbed, and bombarded with requests. (You think you’ve got problems!).
Yet at the end of Jesus’ earthly life, he makes an astonishing statement. Just before he goes to the cross, Jesus prays to the Father, “I have accomplished the work you sent me to do” (John 17:4). How could he say that while there were still so many he hadn’t healed, so many still possessed by demons, so many who hadn’t yet come into relationship with him. From a human perspective, there was more left undone than accomplished. And yet Jesus was finished.
Tyranny of the Urgent, the classic booklet by Charles Hummel, begins with the premise that we have overloaded ourselves with too much to do. Our lives resemble over-packed suitcases bursting at the seams.
If you contrast that way of living with how Jesus lived, the difference is stark. The secret was found in Mark 1:35: Jesus got up early in the morning and prayed and met with the Father. The sense of priorities and calling and direction he received for that day, flowing out of his time with the Father, allowed him to move with calmness and purpose as he proceeded into whatever interruptions would come his way. Some of those interruptions were divine appointments, like the bleeding woman who touched him on his robe when he was on his way somewhere else. He was able to discern that this was something he needed to attend to. Other times the distractions needed to be ignored.
It’s a sorting process. When you set out with a clear idea of your priorities– not everything that you could do, but what God has actually called you to do– you can then evaluate things that come up in light of those priorities. That grid will help you tell the difference between divine appointments and distractions.
Yet at the end of Jesus’ earthly life, he makes an astonishing statement. Just before he goes to the cross, Jesus prays to the Father, “I have accomplished the work you sent me to do” (John 17:4). How could he say that while there were still so many he hadn’t healed, so many still possessed by demons, so many who hadn’t yet come into relationship with him. From a human perspective, there was more left undone than accomplished. And yet Jesus was finished.
Tyranny of the Urgent, the classic booklet by Charles Hummel, begins with the premise that we have overloaded ourselves with too much to do. Our lives resemble over-packed suitcases bursting at the seams.
If you contrast that way of living with how Jesus lived, the difference is stark. The secret was found in Mark 1:35: Jesus got up early in the morning and prayed and met with the Father. The sense of priorities and calling and direction he received for that day, flowing out of his time with the Father, allowed him to move with calmness and purpose as he proceeded into whatever interruptions would come his way. Some of those interruptions were divine appointments, like the bleeding woman who touched him on his robe when he was on his way somewhere else. He was able to discern that this was something he needed to attend to. Other times the distractions needed to be ignored.
It’s a sorting process. When you set out with a clear idea of your priorities– not everything that you could do, but what God has actually called you to do– you can then evaluate things that come up in light of those priorities. That grid will help you tell the difference between divine appointments and distractions.
August 30, 2025
A helpful little booklet on not letting what’s seems urgent distract from what’s important. Good examples in the life of Jesus are given.
January 20, 2025
Short but powerful, highly recommend
January 27, 2020
Absolutely loved the wisdom here.
February 29, 2024
Lot of basic info, and yet, if you're swamped, you might just be ignoring basic info, so it's still good to read IF you are willing to change behavior. I think the best part was the very simple advice Charles Schwab was given to get things done. Simply write down a list of the top 5 things you need to do today and concentrate on getting those done in order of priority. Work on the top one at minimum. The next day, throw away that list and make a new top 5. If you can't get one thing done on that list, then no matter what other method you tried, you won't get it done.
I've been doing that for a month. I have a scrap pad and I write down the top 5 things I want to do tomorrow at the end of the day (because I'm not a morning person and so I'm not going to make that list in the morning) and work on those (I actually make a top 10). And at the end of the day, I throw it away and make the new to do list. Sometimes it's huge things like taxes, sometimes it's simply get the crockpot set up on time, but I can confirm that I've got more things done that are important than I have before doing so (not that I'm not productive, but the laser focus on the most important things is handy to keep other things that could be done getting done instead.) This also keeps me from feeling guilty about not getting some important things done, but if I didn't deem them NEEDING to be done that day, well then, I don't beat myself up for not yet doing that item.
I've been doing that for a month. I have a scrap pad and I write down the top 5 things I want to do tomorrow at the end of the day (because I'm not a morning person and so I'm not going to make that list in the morning) and work on those (I actually make a top 10). And at the end of the day, I throw it away and make the new to do list. Sometimes it's huge things like taxes, sometimes it's simply get the crockpot set up on time, but I can confirm that I've got more things done that are important than I have before doing so (not that I'm not productive, but the laser focus on the most important things is handy to keep other things that could be done getting done instead.) This also keeps me from feeling guilty about not getting some important things done, but if I didn't deem them NEEDING to be done that day, well then, I don't beat myself up for not yet doing that item.
July 31, 2025
This is a nice short read about fulfilling what God wants for us to do on this earth. To practically live it out will take way more time than reading. I like the emphasis on asking how to spend time and following the Spirit’s leading. I’m hoping Samuel and I can walk out some of the practical insights together.
July 12, 2019
"P. T. Forsyth once said, 'The worst sin is prayerlessness.' Does this statement surprise us? We
usually think of murder and adultery as among the worst offenses against God and humanity. But the
root of all sin is self-sufficiency - independence from the rule of God."
usually think of murder and adultery as among the worst offenses against God and humanity. But the
root of all sin is self-sufficiency - independence from the rule of God."
November 9, 2025
In 38 pages, Hummel points out the difference between what's important vs. what's urgent and calls us to evaluate our priorities through pointed time budgeting aimed at incorporating humble prayer. For such a tiny book, it's filled with a lot of truth.
November 12, 2023
Great read for rethinking time management and prioritization of what is truly most important!
February 11, 2024
Short and to the point. Perfect.
April 3, 2026
Very practical help on how to manage your time. I am probably not managing it well by taking time to write this review.
November 10, 2022
A quick read that is very useful.
October 12, 2026
Some books require hundreds of pages to make their point. Others can change the way you think in just a few minutes.
Charles E. Hummel's Tyranny of the Urgent belongs in the second category.
Originally published in 1967, this little booklet is one of the most powerful things I have encountered on the subject of priorities, time management, and intentional living. Nearly 60 years later, its message may be more relevant than ever.
The central argument is remarkably simple: The greatest danger in managing our time is allowing urgent things to crowd out important things.
That distinction sounds obvious. But understanding it and living according to it are two very different things.
And I would argue that this little booklet has something important to teach us about neighboring, relationships, and the communities we are creating.
The Urgent Always Makes More Noise
Think about the demands competing for your attention on any given day.
Emails need responses. Phones ring. Text messages arrive. Deadlines approach. Meetings fill the calendar. Social media notifications interrupt our thoughts.
These things announce themselves. They demand attention, often immediately.
But what about the important things?
Building a friendship with a neighbor rarely comes with a deadline. Spending time with your spouse may not produce an urgent notification. Getting to know the family across the street is unlikely to appear on your daily task list.
Neither does developing trust, strengthening relationships, or creating a sense of belonging.
And that is precisely the problem.
The urgent demands our attention. The important depends on our intention.
If we are not careful, we can spend our entire lives responding to whatever makes the most noise while neglecting the things that matter most.
The Example of Jesus
One of the reasons I appreciate Hummel's approach is that he grounds his argument in the life and ministry of Jesus.
Jesus encountered constant demands. People wanted healing, teaching, attention, and miracles. There was always another need to address.
Yet Jesus did not allow every urgent request to determine his priorities.
He withdrew to pray. He spent time with his disciples. He remained focused on the work he had been given to accomplish.
Hummel makes the important distinction between being busy and being faithful to our purpose.
That is a challenging lesson, especially for those of us who tend to measure a successful day by how much we accomplish.
We can fill our calendars with worthwhile activities and still neglect our highest priorities.
Even good things can become distractions from better things.
The Trap of Constant Productivity
I have described myself as a recovering Type A perfectionist. That means I understand the satisfaction that comes from crossing something off a list.
There is always another project to complete, another message to answer, another idea to pursue, or another opportunity that seems too good to pass up.
And there is a certain satisfaction in being busy.
But Hummel forces us to ask a more important question: Are we accomplishing the things that actually matter, or are we simply responding efficiently to the demands placed upon us?
Those are not necessarily the same thing.
A person can be extraordinarily productive while being relationally impoverished.
We can accomplish impressive professional goals while knowing almost nothing about the people living closest to us.
We can manage our schedules with remarkable precision while leaving little room for the unexpected conversations and personal connections that make life meaningful.
That is the tyranny Hummel wants us to escape.
What This Means for Neighboring
In my work with the Engaged Neighbor Program and Missouri Good Neighbor Week, I frequently encounter people who agree that knowing their neighbors is important.
They believe relationships matter. They want stronger communities. They recognize the value of having someone nearby they can trust.
But when asked why they don't know more of their neighbors, one of the most common explanations is that they are too busy.
I understand that answer.
But Hummel's booklet raises an uncomfortable possibility.
What if the problem is not simply that we lack time?
What if we have allowed other demands to take priority over relationships?
Consider the five practices of intentional neighboring:
See and Be Seen: Making ourselves available and noticing the people around us.
Listen and Learn: Taking time to hear people's stories and learn their names.
Share and Care: Recognizing needs and responding with practical kindness.
Gather and Grow: Creating opportunities for people to spend time together.
Include and Encourage: Helping others experience belonging and connection.
None of these practices necessarily requires a large investment of money or an elaborate program.
But every one of them requires intentional attention.
And every one can easily be postponed by something that seems more urgent.
The email can be answered immediately. The neighbor can wait.
The television program starts at seven. The conversation across the fence can wait.
The weekend is already full. The neighborhood gathering can wait until next month.
Eventually, we discover that the relationships we intended to build never developed.
Not because we opposed neighboring.
But because we never made it a priority.
Important Things Often Have No Deadline
This may be the most significant lesson I take from Hummel's writing.
Many of life's most meaningful activities do not come with deadlines.
There is no official deadline for learning the names of your eight closest neighbors.
There is no required completion date for inviting someone over for coffee.
There is no calendar reminder telling you when to check on someone who lives alone.
And there is rarely an urgent notification reminding you to develop a friendship.
These things are important, but they are not necessarily urgent.
At least not until a crisis arrives.
When a storm damages homes, a neighbor becomes seriously ill, or someone experiences a personal tragedy, the value of strong neighborhood relationships suddenly becomes obvious.
But relationships built before a crisis are far more valuable than introductions made during one.
That is why intentional neighboring matters.
We invest in relationships today because we understand their importance, not because circumstances have made them urgent.
A Challenge to Our Priorities
Hummel does more than diagnose the problem. He encourages readers to examine how they spend their time, establish priorities, plan intentionally, and evaluate whether their daily activities reflect what matters most.
His approach is rooted in prayer, spiritual discernment, and a willingness to say no to some good opportunities in order to say yes to more important responsibilities.
That last point is especially difficult.
Saying no to something worthwhile can feel irresponsible.
But saying yes to everything has consequences, too.
Every commitment requires time that cannot be spent elsewhere.
If we want stronger families, friendships, neighborhoods, and communities, we must be willing to reserve some of our limited time for those relationships.
That might mean accepting fewer commitments.
It might mean leaving some tasks unfinished.
It might mean spending 30 minutes talking with a neighbor instead of accomplishing one more item on a to-do list.
And perhaps that is not wasted time at all.
Perhaps it is among the most productive things we can do.
Why This Book Earns Five Stars
I give Tyranny of the Urgent five stars because it accomplishes something that many much longer books fail to do.
It communicates a profound truth with remarkable clarity.
It is brief enough to read in one sitting, practical enough to apply immediately, and challenging enough to influence the way we live for years.
Unlike some modern books about productivity, Hummel is not primarily concerned with helping us squeeze more accomplishments into our calendars.
He wants us to examine whether we are doing the right things in the first place.
That distinction makes all the difference.
The booklet's Christian foundation is central to its message, but its insight about urgent and important responsibilities also has broad relevance to leadership, family life, community engagement, and personal relationships.
It is the kind of book worth reading more than once, especially during seasons when life becomes particularly busy.
My Final Takeaway: Make Time for People Before You Have To
As I reflect on Tyranny of the Urgent, I keep returning to one simple observation.
The relationships that make our lives meaningful are often the easiest things to postpone.
We assume there will be another opportunity to visit, another chance to introduce ourselves, another afternoon to sit on the porch, or another occasion to invite someone into our home.
Sometimes there is.
Sometimes there isn't.
One of the great lessons of intentional neighboring is that we must stop treating relationships as something we will pursue when everything else is finished.
Everything else will never be finished.
There will always be another email, another deadline, another project, and another demand.
The urgent will always find us.
The important must be chosen.
And that includes choosing to be a good neighbor.
Five stars. I highly recommend Tyranny of the Urgent to anyone who wants to live more intentionally, strengthen relationships, or reconsider what deserves their limited time and attention.
Sometimes the most important thing we can do today is not the next thing on our list.
It may be the person standing right in front of us.
Charles E. Hummel's Tyranny of the Urgent belongs in the second category.
Originally published in 1967, this little booklet is one of the most powerful things I have encountered on the subject of priorities, time management, and intentional living. Nearly 60 years later, its message may be more relevant than ever.
The central argument is remarkably simple: The greatest danger in managing our time is allowing urgent things to crowd out important things.
That distinction sounds obvious. But understanding it and living according to it are two very different things.
And I would argue that this little booklet has something important to teach us about neighboring, relationships, and the communities we are creating.
The Urgent Always Makes More Noise
Think about the demands competing for your attention on any given day.
Emails need responses. Phones ring. Text messages arrive. Deadlines approach. Meetings fill the calendar. Social media notifications interrupt our thoughts.
These things announce themselves. They demand attention, often immediately.
But what about the important things?
Building a friendship with a neighbor rarely comes with a deadline. Spending time with your spouse may not produce an urgent notification. Getting to know the family across the street is unlikely to appear on your daily task list.
Neither does developing trust, strengthening relationships, or creating a sense of belonging.
And that is precisely the problem.
The urgent demands our attention. The important depends on our intention.
If we are not careful, we can spend our entire lives responding to whatever makes the most noise while neglecting the things that matter most.
The Example of Jesus
One of the reasons I appreciate Hummel's approach is that he grounds his argument in the life and ministry of Jesus.
Jesus encountered constant demands. People wanted healing, teaching, attention, and miracles. There was always another need to address.
Yet Jesus did not allow every urgent request to determine his priorities.
He withdrew to pray. He spent time with his disciples. He remained focused on the work he had been given to accomplish.
Hummel makes the important distinction between being busy and being faithful to our purpose.
That is a challenging lesson, especially for those of us who tend to measure a successful day by how much we accomplish.
We can fill our calendars with worthwhile activities and still neglect our highest priorities.
Even good things can become distractions from better things.
The Trap of Constant Productivity
I have described myself as a recovering Type A perfectionist. That means I understand the satisfaction that comes from crossing something off a list.
There is always another project to complete, another message to answer, another idea to pursue, or another opportunity that seems too good to pass up.
And there is a certain satisfaction in being busy.
But Hummel forces us to ask a more important question: Are we accomplishing the things that actually matter, or are we simply responding efficiently to the demands placed upon us?
Those are not necessarily the same thing.
A person can be extraordinarily productive while being relationally impoverished.
We can accomplish impressive professional goals while knowing almost nothing about the people living closest to us.
We can manage our schedules with remarkable precision while leaving little room for the unexpected conversations and personal connections that make life meaningful.
That is the tyranny Hummel wants us to escape.
What This Means for Neighboring
In my work with the Engaged Neighbor Program and Missouri Good Neighbor Week, I frequently encounter people who agree that knowing their neighbors is important.
They believe relationships matter. They want stronger communities. They recognize the value of having someone nearby they can trust.
But when asked why they don't know more of their neighbors, one of the most common explanations is that they are too busy.
I understand that answer.
But Hummel's booklet raises an uncomfortable possibility.
What if the problem is not simply that we lack time?
What if we have allowed other demands to take priority over relationships?
Consider the five practices of intentional neighboring:
See and Be Seen: Making ourselves available and noticing the people around us.
Listen and Learn: Taking time to hear people's stories and learn their names.
Share and Care: Recognizing needs and responding with practical kindness.
Gather and Grow: Creating opportunities for people to spend time together.
Include and Encourage: Helping others experience belonging and connection.
None of these practices necessarily requires a large investment of money or an elaborate program.
But every one of them requires intentional attention.
And every one can easily be postponed by something that seems more urgent.
The email can be answered immediately. The neighbor can wait.
The television program starts at seven. The conversation across the fence can wait.
The weekend is already full. The neighborhood gathering can wait until next month.
Eventually, we discover that the relationships we intended to build never developed.
Not because we opposed neighboring.
But because we never made it a priority.
Important Things Often Have No Deadline
This may be the most significant lesson I take from Hummel's writing.
Many of life's most meaningful activities do not come with deadlines.
There is no official deadline for learning the names of your eight closest neighbors.
There is no required completion date for inviting someone over for coffee.
There is no calendar reminder telling you when to check on someone who lives alone.
And there is rarely an urgent notification reminding you to develop a friendship.
These things are important, but they are not necessarily urgent.
At least not until a crisis arrives.
When a storm damages homes, a neighbor becomes seriously ill, or someone experiences a personal tragedy, the value of strong neighborhood relationships suddenly becomes obvious.
But relationships built before a crisis are far more valuable than introductions made during one.
That is why intentional neighboring matters.
We invest in relationships today because we understand their importance, not because circumstances have made them urgent.
A Challenge to Our Priorities
Hummel does more than diagnose the problem. He encourages readers to examine how they spend their time, establish priorities, plan intentionally, and evaluate whether their daily activities reflect what matters most.
His approach is rooted in prayer, spiritual discernment, and a willingness to say no to some good opportunities in order to say yes to more important responsibilities.
That last point is especially difficult.
Saying no to something worthwhile can feel irresponsible.
But saying yes to everything has consequences, too.
Every commitment requires time that cannot be spent elsewhere.
If we want stronger families, friendships, neighborhoods, and communities, we must be willing to reserve some of our limited time for those relationships.
That might mean accepting fewer commitments.
It might mean leaving some tasks unfinished.
It might mean spending 30 minutes talking with a neighbor instead of accomplishing one more item on a to-do list.
And perhaps that is not wasted time at all.
Perhaps it is among the most productive things we can do.
Why This Book Earns Five Stars
I give Tyranny of the Urgent five stars because it accomplishes something that many much longer books fail to do.
It communicates a profound truth with remarkable clarity.
It is brief enough to read in one sitting, practical enough to apply immediately, and challenging enough to influence the way we live for years.
Unlike some modern books about productivity, Hummel is not primarily concerned with helping us squeeze more accomplishments into our calendars.
He wants us to examine whether we are doing the right things in the first place.
That distinction makes all the difference.
The booklet's Christian foundation is central to its message, but its insight about urgent and important responsibilities also has broad relevance to leadership, family life, community engagement, and personal relationships.
It is the kind of book worth reading more than once, especially during seasons when life becomes particularly busy.
My Final Takeaway: Make Time for People Before You Have To
As I reflect on Tyranny of the Urgent, I keep returning to one simple observation.
The relationships that make our lives meaningful are often the easiest things to postpone.
We assume there will be another opportunity to visit, another chance to introduce ourselves, another afternoon to sit on the porch, or another occasion to invite someone into our home.
Sometimes there is.
Sometimes there isn't.
One of the great lessons of intentional neighboring is that we must stop treating relationships as something we will pursue when everything else is finished.
Everything else will never be finished.
There will always be another email, another deadline, another project, and another demand.
The urgent will always find us.
The important must be chosen.
And that includes choosing to be a good neighbor.
Five stars. I highly recommend Tyranny of the Urgent to anyone who wants to live more intentionally, strengthen relationships, or reconsider what deserves their limited time and attention.
Sometimes the most important thing we can do today is not the next thing on our list.
It may be the person standing right in front of us.
February 14, 2025
Nothing too revolutionary, but it’s got some really helpful takeaways especially early on. Like the difference between “urgent” and “important” (and when they sometimes mix). And guidelines for how to best use and schedule your time.
November 25, 2017
This is a re-read of a good little booklet I received with my first college class. It's extremely helpful in showing that 1) the urgent isn't always what is important to the Lord, and 2) the devotional life is far more pressing on the soul than anything else. If I could give one criticism, Hummel doesn't quite define what he means by "wait for instructions" and "wait on the Lord" (it is a short book), and this may allow for more mystical approaches to answering life's problems. Still, the book theologically addresses an important and practical issue, and it's been a blessing as a result. Recommended.
May 13, 2024
quite out of date now
Obviously, the elephant in the room wasn’t anywhere near the room when Hummel wrote this. No pervasive social media, no constant live streams, no Netflix, no screen-time culture.
However, the notion that “urgent” is always crowding out the “important” is still a fascinating concept. Today, we might title this book Not My Monkeys.
I’m not sure budgeting time will keep you on track with your Bible study, when little Suzie has to go to urgent care for an ear ache. But, just recognizing between what is urgent and what is just an urge may help. (I’m looking at you, TikTok.)
Obviously, the elephant in the room wasn’t anywhere near the room when Hummel wrote this. No pervasive social media, no constant live streams, no Netflix, no screen-time culture.
However, the notion that “urgent” is always crowding out the “important” is still a fascinating concept. Today, we might title this book Not My Monkeys.
I’m not sure budgeting time will keep you on track with your Bible study, when little Suzie has to go to urgent care for an ear ache. But, just recognizing between what is urgent and what is just an urge may help. (I’m looking at you, TikTok.)
August 25, 2024
“But we do know that Jesus’ prayerful waiting for the Father’s instruction freed him from the tyranny of the urgent” pg12.
“Christians who are too busy to stop, take spiritual inventory and recurve their assignments form God become slaves to the tyranny of the urgent” pg27.
I highly recommend this short read! I also highly recommend doing the practical suggestion it says about budgeting your time and looking at how you spend it. Even if you think you know!
“Christians who are too busy to stop, take spiritual inventory and recurve their assignments form God become slaves to the tyranny of the urgent” pg27.
I highly recommend this short read! I also highly recommend doing the practical suggestion it says about budgeting your time and looking at how you spend it. Even if you think you know!
January 11, 2012
This book encourages us to realize that we need to give priority to the important things, rather than the ones that seem so urgent. It will give you strategies for taking control of how you spend your time, and help you to align your schedule with the things you genuinely value.
May 10, 2015
Technologically dated, but principles as relevant as ever!
This is a wonderful booklet meant as a quick reference to provoke thought and give some general guidance. It is common sense in nature, and calls to your level of discipline.
This is a wonderful booklet meant as a quick reference to provoke thought and give some general guidance. It is common sense in nature, and calls to your level of discipline.
March 10, 2012
A must-read! I would recommend reading directly after the book "Priorities" by James C. Petty
January 20, 2018
Very important concept for believers and time management. We need to take control of our time so that we can be better servants in the kingdom.
Read
December 3, 2024a message everyone needs to hear, regardless of their religious affiliations: your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important ones. any time you feel the day has gotten away from you completely, really ask yourself exactly what you spend doing it. if you were to list out your top five priorities in order, would what you chose to spend the day doing match that list? if the answer is no, its time to reevaluate what eats away at your time. i know: easier said than done. but, hey! if even jesus, at the end of this live, with so much left to do for the world, was able to say "i have finished the work which thou gave me to do" maybe its not so unrealistic to try to do the same.
February 4, 2020
As a recovering people pleaser, what I really loved about this book is the emphasis on completing what the Father has assigned to you. Jesus did so many good things on this earth, but He "always could have done more" in each town He visited. Nevertheless, He knew when it was time to move on because He was always listening to the Father. Refusing to accept the urgent demands of people allowed Him to successfully complete the work He was truly assigned and to fulfill His purpose. Following that example in our own lives ensures that we will fulfill the work we were placed on earth to complete and helps us avoid burnout.
May 22, 2023
Time management from a Christian perspective. The central point is that we should prioritise the important rather than getting swept up in the daily habits and minutiae we consider to be urgent. To Hummel the important is prayer but that will vary according to the reader.
“A competent general always draws up his battle plan before he engages the enemy; he does not postpone basic decisions until the firing starts. But he is also prepared to change his plans if an emergency demands it. So try to implement the plans you have made before the day's battle against the clock begins. But be open to any emergency interruption or unexpected person who may call.”
“A competent general always draws up his battle plan before he engages the enemy; he does not postpone basic decisions until the firing starts. But he is also prepared to change his plans if an emergency demands it. So try to implement the plans you have made before the day's battle against the clock begins. But be open to any emergency interruption or unexpected person who may call.”
May 22, 2019
His advice seems like common sense today, and with no credit to Stephen Covey who taught well on this in 7 Habits... And he includes some speculation on Jesus’ use of time. In fact, I think there could be a great case made that Jesus capitalized on the “urgent” quite frequently as He ministered to people.
Although, time management principles are much easier heard than applied, so I can’t be too hard on this guy. For an already short book (31 pages!) it should have been shortened to a blog post.
Although, time management principles are much easier heard than applied, so I can’t be too hard on this guy. For an already short book (31 pages!) it should have been shortened to a blog post.
June 15, 2021
Common Sense Adaptation of Biblical Principles
"Work expands to fill all the available time." I've heard this many times in my life. But why? In large part it's because we don't know what our priorities are in life. Jesus told us how to prioritize our lives and our time. He took time for the important things of life, namely the needs of people. And Jesus took time to rest... on the sea, in the garden, on the mountain. It's not complicated, but it takes effort to overcome our physical human nature in lieu of the guiding of God.
"Work expands to fill all the available time." I've heard this many times in my life. But why? In large part it's because we don't know what our priorities are in life. Jesus told us how to prioritize our lives and our time. He took time for the important things of life, namely the needs of people. And Jesus took time to rest... on the sea, in the garden, on the mountain. It's not complicated, but it takes effort to overcome our physical human nature in lieu of the guiding of God.
Read
December 23, 2023Quick Read
My former pastor recommended this book in Sunday school class one day. I bought and downloaded it immediately! The irony is that its taken me years to finally devote time to read it. This is a great book to help you overcome the burdens this world holds over proper time management. By resetting your priorities, you can then reset your focus. Hummel helps us develop strategies to set the God ordained priorities of each individual life. If you struggle with time management, like I do, you HAVE to read this book!!!!!
My former pastor recommended this book in Sunday school class one day. I bought and downloaded it immediately! The irony is that its taken me years to finally devote time to read it. This is a great book to help you overcome the burdens this world holds over proper time management. By resetting your priorities, you can then reset your focus. Hummel helps us develop strategies to set the God ordained priorities of each individual life. If you struggle with time management, like I do, you HAVE to read this book!!!!!
November 3, 2024
Dense with Spiritual wisdom
This book was a real foundation of my early spiritual life as a college student and then full time ministry leader. I had lost touch with it over the past 40-years and just recent rediscovered it. It is an extremely brief booklet packed with deeply spiritual, yet practical wisdom about waiting on and listening for God's voice and direction - being proactive, instead of reactive, in the use of our time and energy.
This book is worth it's weight in gold, times 1,000!
This book was a real foundation of my early spiritual life as a college student and then full time ministry leader. I had lost touch with it over the past 40-years and just recent rediscovered it. It is an extremely brief booklet packed with deeply spiritual, yet practical wisdom about waiting on and listening for God's voice and direction - being proactive, instead of reactive, in the use of our time and energy.
This book is worth it's weight in gold, times 1,000!
March 25, 2026
when trying to read a 30 page booklet on "urgency" on our lives takes 5 days, your begin to realize the importance of that very text.
it's definitely one I will be recommending to others and keeping near my desk for little snippets and reminders
we budget money and set priorities but we don't do that as well with our Time, Mr Hummel does a good job of connecting the budgeting principle to time, and initial steps are always inventory. I have my next steps
it's definitely one I will be recommending to others and keeping near my desk for little snippets and reminders
we budget money and set priorities but we don't do that as well with our Time, Mr Hummel does a good job of connecting the budgeting principle to time, and initial steps are always inventory. I have my next steps
August 24, 2023
This is a terrific pamphlet for those who struggle with priorities and time management. I may have benefited from reading it many years ago when I was still working, but now that I am retired, I’m very good at setting and keeping my goals in terms of time.
That said, I am a tremendously goal-driven person. For those who struggle with this, the pamphlet is very instructive.
That said, I am a tremendously goal-driven person. For those who struggle with this, the pamphlet is very instructive.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews