So often when I greet people and ask them how they are doing they respond by saying, “I’m busy.”

This reality of busyness has got me thinking…

It seems, for some odd reason, that we as humans have begun to see busyness as a badge of courage or a sign of important-ness.  It’s as if our busyness somehow signifies our value, status or productivity.

As I have thought about it in my own life it has becoming easier to see why. If my calendar is filled with activity, meetings and running from one thing to the next, than I can easily convince myself that I’m not lazy and idle, which in turn must indicate that I am active and therefore productive. Thus, in some twisted way, I see my busyness as representing my productivity, which ultimately leads me to believe that I am fruitful. Or at least that is how the thinking goes.  But does it really? Does a calendar full of activity mean we are fruitful?  

Now, I must pause before we move on, and say that being active or busy, is not necessarily a “bad” thing.  Life, family and ministry is demanding, and we are called to respond—to love, to serve and to “be fruitful, multiply, subdue the earth and rule over it” (Gen. 1:28), which clearly indicates working. However, as I seek to find the proper balance, the realization that I am coming to understand about busyness is this:

Busyness does NOT equal fruitfulness.

Here is what God is teaching me on this subject.  I hope this gives you encouragement as well!

1. We must know the target

If I am honest, all of my busyness mostly comes from a deep desire to be fruitful. I just want to be who God has called and equipped me to be! Sound familiar? Can you relate? Thus, my target in life is fruitfulness.

Ironically, if you read the great passage in John 15 about fruitfulness, you will realize that fruitfulness is never actually the target. Abiding is. Jesus says:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man abides in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit.” (John 15:5)

Indeed, our target is not even to be fruitful, but to stay attached to the Vine from which all fruit comes. Our aim should be to know Him and His heart, to “remain or abide in Him.” Staying attached to the Source, hearing His heartbeat, is the only way we are able to do “the will of Him who sent us.” [1]

2. We are not supposed to do it all

In my attempt to prioritize I have come to realize that God doesn’t ask me to do it all. The same is true for you. Surely there will be people we don’t end up meeting with, projects we don’t complete and lessons that never get written.

The same was true for Jesus. A quick glimpse of His life reveals that He didn’t heal every single person of disease and demon possession. He didn’t write every single training manual or preach every single message. Instead, He merely did the will of the Father. Nothing more and nothing less (John 5:19; 8:28; Luke 22:42).

There is sooooo much to do, and God does not want you to do it all. Let me repeat: There is sooooo much to do and God does not want you to do it all.

He does not expect you to kill yourself in His service. Now, you might die in His service, of course, but it should not be because you’re a workaholic! [1]

3. Live from your identity, not your insecurity

So often our busyness comes out of a place of insecurity. We struggle to feel confident in our position or worth and turn to worldly affirmation. We work and strive and remain busy in order to impress or achieve the standard of others. Maybe it is a boss, a church, a set of friends or a donor. Whomever it is, you will not thrive when you try to meet your deep insecurities by trying to make someone else happy.

Your identity is secured in God alone.  There are over 160 verses in the Bible about our identity in Christ ! [2]

  • There is no condemnation for us (Romans 8:1)
  • We can never be separated from God’s love (Romans 8:39)
  • We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
  • We have become God’s children (Galatians 3:26)
  • We have every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3)
  • We have the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7)
  • We were also chosen (Ephesians 1:11)
  • We are for the praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:12)
  • We have been seated in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6)
  • We’ve been given the incomparable riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 2:7)
  • We who were once far away have been brought near (Ephesians 2:13)

Praise be to God for how He sees us through Jesus!

I don’t know if busyness is a struggle for you. But if it is, I encourage you to turn to Jesus and seek His insight. Some of the most fruitful people I have met are not frantic, frazzled, people.  They may have an incredible amount of responsibility and a ton to get done, but they walk in a peace and calmness that you can almost feel.

Don’t allow your busyness to rob you. Surrender your plans to Jesus, and I believe He will help show you a new way to live.

Growth Point:

Busyness does not equal fruitfulness. The Bible has a different perspective

Scripture Point:

Read or re-read John 15:1-17. How does this speak to your life?

Action Point:

Set aside 30 minutes of time to examine your schedule and life. Are you seeing good balance in your activity, responsibilities and abiding in Christ? Take one day at a time and make the changes you feel God is calling you towards.

 

[1] http://www.alifeoverseas.com/living-well-abroad-4-areas-to-consider/

[2] http://www.soulshepherding.org/2006/07/identity-in-christ-verses-in-the-bible/