Beep...beep...beep...beep...

It’s the compliment that ranks toward the top of the list for most people these days. To hear the utterance of these few words, the soul is flooded with a sense of accomplishment, of self-worth, of purpose. And yet the very thing which procures from others this admiration is that which will be our own undoing. I’ll tell you how you can quickly identify the characteristic to which I’m referring. Just ask someone, “How are you?”

Whenever I ask this of someone, I can almost predict what they’re going to say. “Busy.” Or “Good…busy.” Or “ Really busy.” Forget the whole “How are you?” conversation starter. You might as well jump right in and ask, “Have you been busy lately?” (And perish the thought of answering in the negative!) Or perhaps, “What have you been busy doing these days?” We wear ourselves out running here and there, working on projects, dreaming up new ideas, scheduling meetings, participating in all kinds of worthwhile events. But, ah, the sweet sound of that exclamation, “Wow, you sure are busy!” Perhaps sweetened only when punctuated by the rhetorical question, “How do you do it all?”

Even as defined in Webster’s dictionary, “busy” is less than flattering: engaged in action, occupied, being in use, full of activity, bustling, foolishly or intrusively active, meddling, full of distracting detail.

How on earth did being busy become so attractive and sought after in our society?

As is so often the case, this highly valued attribute in our society is antithetical to that which God values and describes so favorably in His Word. How often do these words find a place in our lives? peaceable, quiet, rest, abide.

Read some of the passages in which the following verses are contained and see if it doesn’t just wash over you with a sense of relief and freedom. God doesn’t expect us to be busy. God doesn’t want us to be busy.

“Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

“Abide in me, and I in you.” John 15:4a

“…that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” I Timothy 2:2b

“…study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.” I Thessalonians 4:11

Let’s briefly treat a couple of common misconceptions with a dose of truth:

1. It is not necessary to be busy to be productive. Perhaps more importantly, being busy is not equivalent to being productive. True and lasting productivity (or “fruit”) is not measured by an abundance of activity or the fullness of our schedule. Only God can produce lasting fruit in our lives, and it is the result, not of a busy life, but of abiding in Christ. (John 15:5)

2. It is not necessary to be busy in order to do what God has called us to do with diligence. Diligence can be defined as, “Investing all my energies to complete the tasks that are assigned to me.” Not "to complete every task I can possibly think of and add to my daily schedule." Not "to agree to and complete every task that anyone asks me to accept." We must each identify our God-given responsibilities and be diligent to fulfill those. So often our busy lifestyle is the result of taking it upon ourselves to invest in all sorts of tasks and activities that God does not intend. (Proverbs 22:29 – notice “his business”)

Idle hands may be the devil’s workshop, as the saying goes, but I suspect our busy, busy lives aren’t far behind in his strategy to make us of little value to the advancement of God’s Kingdom. How often does God call us, but the only thing He can reach is a busy signal? Again.