As Christians and as human beings, busyness is something we all struggle with. I’m sure you’re like me and have realized there just aren’t enough hours in the day anymore. So, I would not be so foolish as to tell you not to be busy. Busyness is a part of life. However, my encouragement to you today is to make sure you’re busy doing the right things and that you throttle your busyness as best you can.
Here are three truths regarding busyness:
1: If the devil cannot make you bad, he’ll make you busy.
2: What we’re busy about is what counts. Both the honeybee and the mosquito are busy. The bee is praised and the mosquito is swatted!
3: If you’re always available – you’re never available!
The Christian life is a life of relationships. God has called us into relationship with one another and together we grow in our relationship with God. In John 13:34-35(KJV) Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” You see, life is not about accomplishments; it’s about relationships. And life is not about possessions; it’s about people.
During his career, baseball great Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs. In the twilight of his career he was traded to the Boston Braves. The Braves were playing the Cincinnati Reds in what was one of his last games. The aging star was no longer as agile as he once was. In fact, in this particular game he had fumbled the ball and threw badly. In one inning alone his errors were responsible for five Cincinnati runs. As the Babe walked off the field after the third out, the fans began to boo and hurl insults at him. Just then a young boy jumped over the railing onto the playing field. With tears streaking his cheeks, the lad threw his arms around the legs of his hero.
Ruth didn’t hesitate. He picked up the boy, hugged him, and set him down on his feet with a playful pat on the head. Suddenly the booing stopped. In fact, a hush fell over the stadium. In those brief moments the crowd saw a different kind of hero. They saw a man, who in spite of a dismal day on the field, could still care about a little boy. The crowd no longer judged him for his past success or present failures. They began to judge him by a completely different standard.
Suddenly it was not his works that mattered – but a relationship with a little boy.
Life is busy. Life is demanding. And life isn’t always fair. However, as Christians, we need to be reminded that one day the busyness will cease. One day the “Big S” on our chest will tarnish and fade. In that moment the only thing that will have any redeeming value will be the relationships we have made along the way that cause people, especially little children, to embrace us, on the worst day of our lives, and love us simply for who we are. I’m glad I have family and friends that do that for me. I’m glad Jesus does that for me!
What we’re busy about is what counts. Both the honeybee and the mosquito are busy. The bee is praised and the mosquito is swatted! Let us be busy for the Lord – tending the relationships we cherish. Let us be the change we want to see in others.
Brother Aaron
To schedule Brother Aaron to preach a Sunday service at your church, a revival meeting, or a special event, you may contact him at: 1-800-511-9536, 706-302.9162, or e-mail: freshfire@mindspring.com
