When Did Busy Become A Core Value?

When did being busy become an aspirational value for Christians?

I am not sure being busy is something to brag about, but many of us wear it as a badge of honor constantly boasting about our bloated schedules as if “thou shalt always be busy” were the 11^th commandment.

Recently while thinking about my busy schedule, I typed the following five questions to myself in my iPad:

- I know you are busy, but are you PRODUCTIVE?

- I know you are busy, but are you STRATEGIC?

- I know you are busy, but are you OBEDIENT (to God)?

- I know you are busy, but are you FRUITFUL?

- I know you are busy, but are you KIND?

I was ashamed of my answers to most of these questions.

It is possible and common to be BUSY and NOT be productive, strategic, obedient, fruitful or kind.

Jesus was never too busy to listen, to serve, to rest, to pray, to eat, or to hang with kids. Sometimes I act like I’m too busy to rest, pray, listen and eat. Not good. Not good at all.

What about you - are you busy or are you productive, strategic, obedient, fruitful and kind?

Comments

[tads]

Great post pastor steve. Its a good reminder to all of us. Thanks for this. :D..While reading your blog, i also realize that there are two types of being busy, this is busy in doing worldly things and busy to become more productive, strategic, obedient, fruitful and kind. :D

[Nik Harrang]

Great thoughts Pastor Steve. I agree wholeheartedly that busyness has a badge of honor associated with it, when it might have nothing to do with fruitfulness or wisdom.
Just wanted to point out that while Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing, we see times where he wasn't able to eat or rest. In Mark 3:20-21 it says the crowds continually seeking Jesus made it impossible for him to eat. His family saw what was going on and thought it was unreasonable, so they came to take charge of him. In Mark 6:31 it says "so many peope were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat." In the following verses it says he tried to get some rest with his disciples but again was interrupted by ministry needs and fed the 5000.