"Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool."Ecclesiastes 5:3 (NLT)
"For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil." Isaiah 32:6 (NIV)
"But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!" Luke 10:40 (Amplified Bible)
"Too much," "busy with evil," and "too busy" all seem to yield poor results.
But what about these verses?
"Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both." Ecclesiastes 11:6 (NLT)
"Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." Titus 2:3-5 (NIV)
These verses indicate being busy is good. However the individuals are to be busy doing their work, that is making a living and keeping their house. I think this last verse sums it up.
"We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies." 2 Thess 3:11 (NIV)
Being busy is good, if you are busy at the right things. Doing God's work, making a living for your family and keeping your home for your family. We are not called to be idle or lazy. However, we are also not called to be overly busy, which often results in neglected our family, and neglecting God. (Too busy to pray?) We aren't to be minding everyone else's business at the expense of our own.
As a mom, I feel very busy keeping up with housework and children's activities. But I know I am doing the work that God prepared in advance for me to do. Wisdom comes in knowing what to say "no" to, so that we don't become overly busy.
It is important to take on and complete the work that God prepared in advance for us to do*. Be discerning. Remember, just because it is a "good" thing to do, doesn't mean it is a "God" thing to do. Be busy working for God, but don't take on any side jobs from the devil.
*Ephesians 2:10 -- For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
11 comments:
Very good. I have to constantly reassess my schedule and work - am I busy at the right things? Sometimes the answer is no. Good reminder that busy is good, just make sure it is a good busy.
Satan never rests. And if we don't rest, we'll be just like him. Rest and idleness are not the same.
Love ya bunches.
I am still a "work in progress" when it comes to selecting and time management in what I do--on top of my family responsibilities. I supposedly cut back on things for this year coming up, except that all of my major responsibilities came between September and yesterday!
I should know by now that my planning does not account for things that happen outside of my control--which thus affect my "planning." If I had even less on my plate, I could give fully as I should without sacrificing where I shouldn't. Not saying there isn't sacrifice involved, but not on things like sleep!!
Folks may misconstrue these Scriptures, but, truly, you have laid things out well here, and the Bible remains consistent in its message of staying true to God's purposes.
Great reminder! We do need to be able to hear God's voice in order to know what things we should do or say no to.
Great post!
Sonya
Wonderful message Kelly. I've seen that acronym before in a message our co pastor back home taught on. I also have a great teaching by Joyce Meyer titled: Are you too busy?
Thanks for sharing. I had to highlight the Scripture boxes to see the Scriptures. It might just be my computer but just in case the font is too light perhaps.
Love ya.
Hey Friend.
Great reminder for this time of year! To get our daily "to do" list before the Lord and allow Him to make His list ours. Being a good steward over our time and "busyness" honors Him.
Hugs,
Sharon
I think this is my biggest pitfall. I like being busy and I find I easily overdo it. Great reminder and great time for it too!
Oh, this also made me want to do a word study on the word busy in these verses. :)
I used your acrostic last night in class - BUSY = Being Under Satan's Yoke. Went well.
Agreeing with you!
I came up with this thought while meeting with my mentor today: I am no good for anybody, when I'm trying to be good for everybody.
It's OK to say NO to some activities - even "good" ones. Because being too busy being good makes us no good!
What I have come to discover when it comes to busyness is that if I really get to the root of why I am choosing to do a particular thing, it can be very revealing. The bottom line is "Did God ask me to do that?" Otherwise I may be doing it out of my own pride or sense of need and thereby am also doing it in my own power and not His. When I really think about it, I always have plenty of time to do what God has truly called me to do.
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