Jesus warned that the cares of the world can choke the word of God. James Covel serves as a cautionary example: if we are not careful, the ordinary demands of life can distract us from activities of eternal value.
Thy Daily Walk
The Lord emphasized to Martin Harris that we need to focus on our "daily walk," living every day according to the counsel we have received. Two essential components of our daily walk with Him are prayer and gratitude.
“Taking Strength Unto Themselves”
When the olive trees all produced bad fruit, the servant explained that the branches had overpowered the roots, "taking strength unto themselves." In our daily lives, we need to make sure that our activities support our goals instead of overpowering them.
Busybodies and Busyness
A busybody is someone who gets involved in things that don't concern them. They are high-energy, but their energy is largely wasted. We need to eliminate distractions, and dedicate time to our highest priorities.
Redeeming the Time
Paul urged the Ephesians, "Redeem the time, because the days are evil." Undisciplined time attracts low-value activities, but our intentional use of time redeems it. As Amulek reminded the Zoramites, our time on earth is finite, so we must use it wisely.
That Good Part
Martha was frustrated because her sister Mary was listening to Jesus while she was busy working. Jesus encouraged her to rethink the importance of Mary's decision. We can all review how we are spending our time and make necessary adjustments.
Mustard Seeds and Time Management
Jesus and Alma both emphasized that a tree begins as a very small seed. The practical application of this principle is simple: focus every day on making small contributions to big goals. The cumulative effect of those efforts can be extraordinary.
Letting Things Go
A major part of discipleship is letting things go. Jesus told his apostles what not to pack, how not to plan for speeches, and how to move on when treated badly. The principle is simple: find joy by focusing on the most important things.
Give Place
Jesus told Jairus and his wife to "give place" for the miracle He was about to perform. Alma invited the Zoramites to "give place" for the word of God. We also need to make room in our schedules and in our hearts to receive God's grace.
All These Things
Jesus promised that if we put the kingdom of God first, everything else that is needed will fall into place. Elder Uchtdorf explained that we can find more joy when we trust God to help us meet all of the demands on our time.