Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent

By Charles Hummel -

Do you ever feel like you have too much to do and not enough time to do it? Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent offers biblical guidance in the stewardship of time. Author Charles Hummel's original Tyranny of the Urgent sold over one million copies. Now, Hummel has expanded on the life-changing approach that has transformed the lives of thousands struggling to keep from being swept away by the rush of life.

Strengths

Biblical Stewardship Perspective. Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent offers a solid, Christ-centered approach to managing our time, summed up in this quote from the book: "The challenge is to manage ourselves under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, from whom we get our goals and values."

Uniqueness. The author differentiates his approach from other "time management" books, not only with his Bible-based insights but also by proposing that the term "time management" itself is a misnomer: "A person cannot do anything to time itself - delay or hasten, save or lose it - much less 'manage' it....the bottom line is managing ourselves within the time frame granted to us."

 Saying "No". Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent provides insights on how to plan to say "no" to the variety of urgent plans and pleas that come our way on a daily basis. Hummel wisely cautions, "You're only indispensable until you say 'no'."

God-Centered Life. Hummel reminds readers that God will guide our decisions and actions as we seek Him. He contends, in fact, that we will be released from much of life's tyranny when we learn to be quiet before the Lord and adds: "There is no substitute for the confidence that today - in this time and place - I am obeying the will of my Father."

 Prioritization. How do you assess the importance of tasks and activities? Hummel advises, "Importance is gauged by contribution to our high priority goals. Since frequently there is no pressure for [important tasks] to be done today, this week or even this month, these activities must be motivated by our commitment to their ultimate value....the key is not to prioritize the activities on your schedule, but to schedule your predetermined priorities."

 Urgency. The book's title promises freedom from the tyranny of the urgent. Hummel counsels, "Urgent matters come into our life demanding action. Often the initiative is taken by someone else; the tasks are of most value to that person. They're more an interruption than a contribution to our own priorities."

 Practical. Freedom from the Tyranny of the Urgent can be used for personal reflection or group study. Each chapter concludes with questions that can be used in either context to help the reader apply the key points from that chapter.

 Ultimate Goal. In the end this book is about helping Christians put first things first: "For the Christian, there is no greater challenge in life but to press on toward the goal for which he has been called heavenward in Christ Jesus, making the most of every opportunity......your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important ones."

Things to Be Aware Of

Hummel has succeeded in writing a very engaging and helpful book on the stewardship of time. While it is distinct from most "time management" books on the market, there is one similarity that readers should be aware of: the unspoken, underlying premise that one's own priorities are more important than the "urgent" needs and priorities of others. Learning to discern between urgency and importance, and avoiding time-wasting distractions are valuable acquired skills. Having said that, it is also true that Jesus often stopped what He was doing to tend to the  "urgent" concerns of others and did not see them as "interruptions." With that one qualifier in mind, this book is a very worthwhile and recommended resource.

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