Proverbs 12:14 - From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
A friend of mine told me lately of a Christian message that he heard that struck him to the heart and stopped him in his tracks … for a second. He was so busy running from one thing to the next, with a “things to do today” list that not only didn’t leave a minute of rest, but couldn’t possibly get everything done that he wanted to do. In the car, between one of the many bustling activities, a Pastor was speaking on the Christian radio program that he was listening to and said: “Satan uses busyness to distract Christians from their time with God“. He realized that he did not have his priorities “right” and in his attempt to fill the days with purposeful endeavors, the Lord had been put in the back seat of his life. His schedule was not only a hassle, but also a hustle. His soul found no pleasure or rest in the race to fill every space and gap with places to go, people to see and things to do. This wasn’t “abundant life”, but over abundance of living and the demands close in on you. Who has not been there? Raise your hand!
Living in this fast-paced American culture places an incredible demand upon our time and attention, but Christians need to live and walk through life through the gospel. What does that mean? The gospel is never divorced from ethics. Not only is the gospel deliverance from the evil of sin, its filth, and its guilt, but it also leads us to discover what we ought to do. Its aim, end, and design is to make us live “holy” lives. Always remember: “What did God do for you through Jesus?” Titus 11-13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are to look at life through Christ and thereby have the balance of mind to allocate our daily time and attention properly. I remember buying those rubber wristbands that with the impressed letters “WWJD”, which stands for: “What Would Jesus Do”, and giving them out to my Sunday school class. It’s the same concept. We are not only to walk with God, but also to go to God. Satan uses the law of sin, which is adverse to all communication with God, to distract us through our busyness and allow no relief aids for the soul. No peace. All of these time-demanding activities may appear self-fulfilling, pleasant, benefit and are “oh so” tempting, but remember what the Lord said: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." - Matthew 26:41. Out of that weakness grows our weariness.
Some will say: “Should we always pray and meditate, even when we neglect our duties and thus become useless to ourselves and to others in the world? That’s the opposite extreme and extremes are not balanced. Balance in life is what God desires and what we need. Are our daily lives and routines filled with special activities? Special activities and occasions must be determined by special circumstances. If we take more time than necessary to perform what we feel needs to be done, filling our time with busyness, we rob God of the time He deserves and we need for our souls. God will not bless us in that activity. It is important that all other duties remain subservient to our regard of God and His holiness. Yet so readily does the deceitfulness of sin use the busyness of a full schedule, more things to do than there is time to do them, to rob God of his due. The corrupt reasoning of our sinful flesh should motivate us to watch and pray, as we are easy targets for busyness in this fast-paced society. We must keep life in balance for the abundant life that God intended … centered in Christ.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 - So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Grace & Peace, Brian
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