We live in a busy world.
How often have you asked someone, "How are you?" and their reply was along the lines of, "Good. Keeping busy." I know I have been guilty of similar responses on more occasions than I'd like to admit, especially before I retired from full-time work. Do we see 'busyness' as a badge of honour? Can you imagine the shock on the asker's face if you replied, "Oh, I'm well. I haven't been doing anything much, just resting and relaxing."? While there are occasions when this reply may be socially acceptable, such as when recovering from an illness, we simply don't want to admit that we have been less busy than everyone else.
Don't get me wrong. Work is good. Being active is good. Helping others is good. After all, Colossians 3:23-24 says,
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24 Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.
If being busy is keeping us from important things, such as investing time in our relationships with others or with God, or if we are running ourselves ragged so that we are no earthly use to anyone, then we are not honouring God.
Jesus is the ultimate example of selfless busyness. The Bible tells us only a small fraction of the things He did in His three years of ministry. His days were filled with putting the needs of others before His own. He made time to speak with people, to heal their ailments and mend their hearts. But He still made sure to withdraw from the pressures of whatever was going on around Him and make time to draw close to His Father.
We need to follow Jesus' example. Luke 5:12-15 says,
12 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 14 Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. (Emphasis mine)
The things we need to do won't disappear. As we make time to rest and reflect in the Lord, our perspective will change, and we'll be able to do what we need to do, with God-honouring priorities.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.