This title brings to mind a song from Veggie Tales (parents of little ones sing along!)
"I'm busy, busy, dreadfully busy, you've no idea what I have to do!
Busy, busy, shockingly busy! Much, much too busy for YOU!"
See if you can get that one out of your head. ;)
Life is so busy these days, it's a wonder any of us get anything done. With all the conveniences available to us, we expect more productivity out of the same twenty-four hours, and more time to have fun and relax. I don't know of anyone who has actually accomplished this.
What I do see often, especially in my own life, is the natural inability to sustain such self-inflicted expectations. So many balls in the air, so many to-do lists, so many opportunities to fail. And of course, misery and frustration soon follow as something gets dropped.
Who expects this of us? Does God expect us to carry all these mutually exclusive burdens? Have we blamed Him for things we've done to ourselves?
What does God really want from me?
"A certain man gave a great supper and invited many,and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' But they all with one [accord] began to make excuses.
The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'
So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here [the] poor and [the] maimed and [the] lame and [the] blind.'
And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled.
For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.' " (Luke 14:16-24, NKJV)
Was it that those invited didn't want to come? I don't believe so. What prevented them was the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches (Matt 13:22).
What was urgent seemed more important at the moment, while what was truly important was neglected.
The outcome of this was that in the end, when those invited to the feast would have come, the doors were closed and they were too late.
You can probably guess where I'm going with this. Read on...
"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:21-23, NKJV)
This relationship with our Creator is never a casual thing. He is returning for a bride, not a shallow acquaintance He sees once a week. Not someone who only finds time to chat when everything else is done.
When He calls us Home, it will be with that familiar Voice we've heard all this time in quiet moments. And we will hasten to His bidding, as we have so often to his whisper, "Come and eat."
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)
No, there isn't much 'free time' to be found these days.
But friend, I beg you now as I admonish myself: Carve out some time for God now from your stubborn, habitual schedule. How can you profess to know Him if you never make precious time for Him?
There will always be something to draw your attention away. But let not the spouse and children God gave you, nor the job and possessions He provided, be the very things to separate you from Him!
Forget not His benefits. Remember He is the one from whom all blessings flow, who gives every good and perfect gift.
Let's recall the words of Jesus to Martha as she, overwhelmed with responsibilities, crossly regarded her sister, who sat at His feet:
"Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41,42 NKVJ)
One thing is needed.
Listen to the words of this song and hear Him speaking...
