TOO BUSY

Reading: Luke 10:38-42

"Most of us are far too busy for our own spiritual good." - Bill Hybels, Too Busy Not To Pray

 

Lately I have noted that there are a lot of tired people.  You can tell the signs ... glazed looks, irritability, negative attitudes; and, of course, the most tell-tale sign of all -- people nodding off any time they stop moving.  I understand the feeling.  There have been times when I had to put a car in park at a stop light because I might nod off and roll into oncoming traffic.  I once fell asleep when in conference with a staff member and I was talking.

Now that's tired.

Tiredness is often the result of busyness, especially extreme busyness. People who have too much on their plate and who are rushing to keep up usually wear out before they get everything finished.

This not only hazardous to our physical health, but is hazardous to our spiritual health, as well.  People mistakenly think that busyness is the new spirituality.  They engage in religious activity after religious activity but never slow down long enough to be still and know God.  (In fact, they are more likely to simply fall asleep in the pew and miss any message from the Lord.)

Martha of Bethany had that problem.  She opened her home to Jesus.  She created a place and a connection where people could hear the good news of the Kingdom of God.  But she was too busy being hostess to a religious teacher than to hear the message that teacher was bringing to everyone--including Martha.

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”- Luke 10:38-42 ESV

We need to be careful that we are not too busy in the work of the Lord that we don't take to actually be with the Lord.

(C) 2011 by Stephen L Dunn