Busy is a Choice

February 15, 2024

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down” (NLT). 

Weights aren’t bad; they’re not sinful. They’re just unnecessary. What is a weight in your life? It could be a job, a relationship, or a hobby. It’s something that slows you down from what God wants from your life.

You can fill your life with “good things” that keep you from spending time with God. You can even be involved in ministry all the time and be so busy working for God that you don’t leave God any time to work in you.

An example of this is Mary and Martha, who were sisters and also friends of Jesus. One day they invited him to their home for a meal. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to his teaching. Martha was busy worrying about the food and making sure everything was in place.

“Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:40-42 NIV).

Mary knew there was one thing worth her time: getting to know the Son of God.

God didn’t put you on Earth just to work and then retire. He put you here so you can get to know him.

And the truth is, when it comes to our calendars, we can’t “do it all.” We weren’t meant to. We have to make a choice with how we will spend our time.

For some of us, this may mean we need to say “no” to more things. For others it may mean we need to watch a little less TV and spend more time serving others. Or, maybe we need to evaluate how much time we are spending at the office rather than investing into the lives of our kids.

If you’re “too busy,” to do what God is calling you to do, that is a choice you’re making.

We all have the same amount of time in our day. How are you going to choose to spend it?

The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is helpful” (HCSB).

What does that mean? Many things aren’t necessarily wrong; they’re just not necessary. Life is often a choice between “Am I going to do something good?” or “Am I going to do what’s best?”

If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. He’ll get you so busy that you don’t have time for the important things—ministry, mission, and time alone with God.

You can’t do it all. So, choose to do what matters most, prayerfully.

Simplify your life and eliminate distractions so God can use you.