Pastor C. J. Mahaney has been interviewing persons of relative notability within Christian circles for the last several months over at his Sovereign Grace Ministries Blog.  Today on his blog, he featured third installment of his Q & A with author, Randy Alcorn.

Both of these are very godly and articulate men.  This interview, then, made for some great questions and even better answers.

Here’s my favorite part.  It’s Randy Alcorn speaking about using time wisely.

Randy, what single bit of counsel has made the most significant difference in your effective use of time?

In Charles Hummel’s booklet Tyranny of the Urgent, which I read as a young Christian 35 years ago, he said that what is urgent is often not important, and what is important is typically not urgent. It’s not urgent to spend time with God, talk with your wife, or read to your kids, but it is extremely important. It may be urgent to return someone’s call, go speak at some event, or turn in a manuscript next Thursday, but not important. (The manuscript, for instance, will likely sit in your editor’s inbox three weeks before he has time to open it.)

Years ago I developed a response to the 99% of things I have to decline:

I have to say “no” to many good things, and even some great ones, in order to be able to say “yes” to those very few things God has called me to do.

I live by this, saying “no” unless there’s a compelling reason to say “yes.” My life is very full, but that way I am free to do some things I couldn’t otherwise do (including coaching teenagers, playing with my grandkids, and hanging out with my wife).

Mahaney and Alcorn have both written several great books.  Below are a few of my favorites.  You can get any one of these books for right at ten bucks.