Does our constant busyness cause us to miss more than just rest and refreshing times? Do people miss the majority of God’s blessings because they’re too busy to notice them? Do I fall into this category? I recently was challenged by a good friend of mine to evaluate some things in my life. This blog is a result of that evaluation.
In Luke 10:38-42 there is an interesting story about two sisters. Here is what is interesting: Mary and Martha are both presented with the same opportunity. Jesus, the Son of God, has come to their home. Before we go on, ask yourself this question… What would you do if you knew Jesus was coming over?
Martha chose to get busy in the preparations. She was probably cleaning and definitely cooking. She was extremely concerned about serving the Son of God and making things the best they could be. Martha became so busy, she was wigging out and losing it. The Bible clearly states that Martha was DISTRACTED with much serving. Distracted from what? Now Mary chose to create a moment… She said, “Right now, while we have this time, I’m not going to get caught up in the busyness of that other stuff. Nothing against Martha, but I’m going to seize this moment and simply enjoy it with Jesus.” She was choosing to focus on what mattered the most to her in that moment. When’s the last time you stopped long enough to embrace a matters-the-most moment?
Mary embraced the moment, Martha was like many of us: preoccupied, distracted, busy being busy! Just like Martha, we fall into the trap of being busy instead of being bigger than the tyranny of the urgent.
It is said, “If the devil can’t make you bad, then he’ll try to make you really busy.”
Our culture has taught us that being really busy means you’re successful, important, and significant.” We’ve become convinced that lots of “important” activity, the business of busyness, is really what matters, an indication of our talent, worth and value. Anybody worth anything will always be busy, right?
Martha was not all wrong in her duties but the bible says she was distracted, probably from something that could have been more important to her in that moment. If you’re constantly burdened by the weight of all the many chores, tasks, responsibilities, obligations, and commitments in your life, then it’s time to change. If killing time is killing you, something needs to change! God commands us to rest. He called it “taking a Sabbath.” Knowing how to rest, to unplug, to unwind is as much a spiritual discipline as prayer or even fasting. When we follow Jesus, we’re about the Father’s business, not about the world’s busyness.
What a great blog! Everytime I hear this story of Mary and Martha with preparing for Jesus to come to the house, it reminds me not to get too busy with the hustle and bustle of my life and to just spend time with my Creator while I have the time to spend it with Him!