Jenna: Hi, Donna… I can't stop to talk now… Justin's baseball game is in ten minutes, the twin's found a mud puddle in the back of the church, and I have to hang all the poster's for the Ladies Tea before I go to the game."
Donna: Good thing you have ten minutes… I really don't have time to talk either… off to pick up the cake for Kirsten's party. Just finished dropping off the postcards for next weeks Back To School Rally. I really shouldn't have handwritten all 500, but you know how that personal touch goes such a long ways.
Jenna: I know what you mean. But I don't know how you found the time! Between leading worship at the church, balancing the boys and getting everyone back to school next week, plus the Ladies Tea, I am swamped. Not to mention the normal housework. I think James is going to be gone all weekend with that annual hunting trip of his, and so all his work gets to be mine too!
Donna: Time! Ha, that's a laugh… I squeezed it into every spare moment of the past four weeks. You know I really should have said no to hosting Kirsten's dance recital party, but I thought perhaps it would give me a chance to witness to the other children's moms… and instead I'm baking fifty cupcakes by tomorrow and baking cookies besides cleaning the house from top to bottom… and John's baby-sitter came down with the measles last week and since she's also Judy's baby-sitter her three kids are coming by tonight, because it's their anniversary. I ended up taking John to work with me twice this week! Plus Mrs. Simpson broke her hip and I agreed to take over her dinner tomorrow night. I hope she likes mulligan stew. Aren't crockpots the best?
Jenna: That reminds me, I have her on my list for tonight. I must get that quiche into the oven before 3:00. I really must go. Great to catch up with you, must spend some time together soon!
Donna: Tell Justin I hope he hits a homer!
What a conversation! Have you ever a conversation like that? These two friends ended up having a conversation of lists. "My life is as busy or busier than yours" sort of competition. Have you ever left an encounter with someone to feel like all you gained was their "to do" list? I have. Unfortunately I have done the "exchange our to-do list dance" way to often. What does it really accomplish? Many times we end up with pride because our "to do" list seems bigger or more important that others--or we end up depressed because we feel worthless. How silly. I know, at times simply sharing our to-do list lets off a bit of steam. That is a good thing--but if it becomes all we share--I believe we might have fallen into one of our enemy's traps. It sets our focus on "what to do", not why we do it. It is another side to the "it's all about me syndromes."
God wants us to be occupied. Jesus called twelve busy men to be his disciples. What is the difference? When does occupied become too busy?
I have been meditating on the word busy for some time. There is a word in the New Testament "periergazomai". It is translated "busy body" (not meddlesome, that's another word) it means 1. to bustle about uselessly, to busy one's self about trifling, needless, useless matters. Wow. Are there areas in my life that could fall under that definition? My flesh would say, of course not. All that I am doing is useful, needful and God ordained. However, I had to take the time to allow the Holy Spirit to shed His light on my life in this area. Let's look at my wonderful namesake, Martha.
"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."
And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things." Luke 10:38-42
We see here that Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. We assume by the conversation between Donna and Jenna that they had "welcomed" each idea into their lives at the time they accepted the responsibility. What a good thing for Justin to play ball, and of course the Ladies Tea needs to be advertised as well as taking care of the twins. Jenna's life is full of "welcomed ideas'. But it would also be called understandably"busy". Donna, on the other hand, is involved in the Back to School Rally, the dance recital party (complete with baking cupcakes and cookies) cleaning house, baby-sitting her friends children and taking food to the injured Mrs. Simpson-- makes me tired just hearing her list! How many of these things sent her from the welcoming of them into the state of "being distracted with much serving". Is this perhaps a barometer for us to use to gauge our schedules? When we lose the joy of the Lord and the sense of welcoming others into our lives we need to stop and check our attitudes. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. She must have known that there would be the feeding, serving and caring for he and his group implied in the invitation. We need to be only occupied with the Father's assignments and be at peace in whatever state we find ourselves.
Our busyness can back fire. It is a double edged sword. As it can falsely increase our sense of importance and self esteem. It can also put up walls that keep our closest family members and friends away. Have you ever wanted to reach out to some one, but hesitated because you were aware of their already full schedule that they have listed in detail to you, so you backed away and didn't call because you felt I can't bother them they are already sooo busy? How sad it is for children not want to bother their parents with cares and concerns because they feel their parents lives are already too full. For friends not to call to share burdens and prayer requests because they don't want to overload them. But what about those we are to be witnesses to? Those that would like to ask questions about your faith, but don't want to "bother" you in your busyness.
"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." Colossians 4:5,6
We are to be tactful yet bold in our Christian witness as we make the most of every opportunity. Make the most (lit. 'buy up') suggests an intensive activity, a buying which exhausts the possibilities available because we recognize that their time is limited. As those who are to behave wisely towards outsiders, we are to let our words be both gracious and wise just as Paul desires for his own speech. We are receiving God's grace: let that grace be evident in the words we speak. Seasoned with salt meant 'witty' in pagan usage but here suggests language that is not dull or flat but is interesting and well chosen (the rabbis sometimes used 'salt' to mean 'wisdom'). Christians need to respond with the right word to those who ask questions, perhaps in connection with their beliefs and behavior. I believe when we are too busy we cease to have the wittiness that we need to be instant in season and out--unable to give an answer to our beliefs because we are so focused on our own selves. May the Lord help us stay balanced. - (Insights from the New Bible Commentary).
How can we redeem the time when we feel so out of control of "time" in our lives? If we are so busy that we are not able to focus on our neighbor to see his/her needs, we need help. I believe we need to allow the Holy Spirit to re-arrange our schedule. Early will I seek you, the psalmist declares. If we seek the Lord first with our time, giving our schedules to God, asking Him to order our days, trusting that we will be able to accomplish His will and purpose in the time He has given, He will strip the "busy body" out of our lives. God is ready to help us in this area. We need not to let guilt drive us to fill up every minute of our day. We need not let the need to be propped up by our busy schedules overwhelm us and prevent us from seeking that which is the good part. Teach us Lord to number our days!
Written by: Martha Rodman
Dialogue was written by
Elizabeth Haslet, Thank you, Elizabeth