Are you too busy?
There’s nothing wrong with being busy. After all, most of us have no choice. After all, as Christians, we’re called to love others and do good works.
So, being busy is a good thing.
That is, unless in our efforts to do good things, we miss Jesus’ call to do the most important thing:
“Come to Me.”
“But Lord, I’d rather GO.”
And He says COME.
That’s when our to-do lists become a problem.
While everything in us screams GO, Jesus whispers COME.
Yet, for some of us, that’s the hardest thing to do.
That’s why I’ll never be too critical of Martha.
CHRISTIAN, ARE YOU TOO BUSY?
Here are five ways to know for sure.
1. BUSY FOR THE WRONG REASONS
In the book of Luke, both Martha and her sister Mary worked like crazy to prepare for a big visit from Jesus. When Jesus arrived, Mary declared the party ready while Martha continued to run around like a chicken with her head cut off.
Although Martha may have been the party planner extraordinaire, Mary had done her share of the party prep as well. No doubt she’d at least chopped some onions and laid out the placemats, because the Bible says she decided to also sit with Jesus (note the emphasis on also).
Long after Mary pitched her dish towel and made her way to Jesus, Martha continued to fuss over details.
Oh, how I relate to Martha!
No matter how hard I try, I can’t let go of the little things.
Company’s coming? Then get those chips out of the bag and into a bowl, line the bread basket with a pretty cloth napkin, set the table, and pour that sweet tea into a glass pitcher.
Even though no one else will notice or even care, I’m compelled to go the second mile.
The appeal of Martha
It’s easy to be Martha. The world honors her and the church applauds her.
I’ve been her.
I’ve feigned exasperation over my jam-packed calendar. And all the while—in the secret places of my heart—all the busy-ness made me feel valued because I was wanted or needed in so many places.
And, I have to admit I’ve jumped through hoops more than once to pull together a special event, family dinner, or PTO function on my own. Even though I could have asked for help or pulled it down a couple of notches, the self-affirmation at the end was worth all the effort.
Even the church makes it easy to be Martha.
When God-sized tasks are on the agenda, Martha’s the one who takes charge. Her busy-ness makes her look important, passionate, and in love with Jesus. But before long, she grows irritable, easily ruffled, or insistent that things go her way. In the deepest places of her heart, she’s aware her activity is more about finding her own notoriety and less about making much of Jesus.
Are you too busy? Yes, if you’re busy for the wrong reasons.
2. TOO BUSY FOR JESUS
As Jesus arrived at the sisters’ house, Martha rushed out to meet Him. No doubt she felt a little smug in her holier-than-thou apron as she ran to tattle on Mary for leaving her high and dry in the kitchen.
But in Jesus’ eyes, Mary was the one doing the better thing. In spite of Martha’s flurry of activity and insistence on serving Him, Jesus saw right through her.
And what He saw was that she loved doing things for Him more than she loved being with Him.
It’s not what Martha was doing that was a problem. It’s why she was doing them.
Sometimes the things we do are nothing more than an effort to show we’re at least needed, if not accepted. Deep inside, we’re afraid to slow down because all the affirmation we need is dependent on how long our To-Do list is.
In spite of all we do, we’re secretly afraid someone may one-up us. Or we’re afraid we won’t live up to our own expectations, let alone everyone else’s. And then there’s the fleetingness of the applause that ends too quickly…
Let me tell you what I learned in real life.
All the acceptance we’re longing for is found in the presence of Jesus.
That’s why He says COME before He says GO.
In other words, if we let Him fill us with all the love and acceptance we long for, then we can go and get busy. Because from that point on, what we do will be fueled by our love for Him, not by a longing that no amount of activity can fill.
Are you too busy? Yes, if you’re too busy for Jesus.
3. WE SOUND MORE SPIRITUAL THAN WE REALLY ARE
After His first visit, Jesus made a second trip to the sisters’ home. This time He came to raise their brother Lazarus from death to life.
When He got there, Martha sounded so spiritual: I know whatever You ask God for, He’ll give You. Then, when Jesus went to remove the stone from Lazarus’ grave, Martha yelled: He’ll stink!
Martha was a big talker.
With her words, she professed to believe God could do anything—even raise her brother from the dead!—but in her heart, she didn’t believe God could operate outside the realm of common sense. She was quick with spiritual-sounding words,, but she didn’t have the faith to back them up.
It’s popular to sound spiritual.
On Facebook, “praying for you” is as common as LOL used to be, and yet I wonder how many prayers are really going up. Between memes on social media and scripture verses on coffee cups at TJ Maxx, spiritual words aren’t hard to find. But those words are empty if there’s no real biblical faith to back them up.
Empty words are a poor substitute for time spent with Jesus.
As hard as we try to convince ourselves that sounding spiritual is the same as being spiritual, it’s not. Nothing in the world can take the place of being in the presence of Jesus and allowing the Spirit of God to fill our hearts and minds.
Are you too busy? Yes, if you sound more spiritual than you really are.
4. WHAT WE DO BECOMES A PRODUCTION
Like Martha, we can turn everything into a big production. (So this isn’t mistaken for church-bashing, I’ll insert here that I’ve joyfully loved and served local bodies of believers for more than 40 years).
The church is a great place for a production. We memorize a script (all the right things to say), gather props (our Bible, church, and morality), turn on the lights (attention on me, please!) and spring into action (busy-ness, activities, and ministry). And all the while, Jesus invites us to scrap it all for one simple thing: “Come to Me.”
Over time, I’ve learned to look deep inside and ask myself not whether I’m willing to serve—that comes easily—but whether I’m willing to do the harder work.
To be still before Jesus.
When I’ve been with Him, then most of what I do will likely be done for Him. And, at that point, I couldn’t care less if no one else notices.
Are you too busy? Yes, if you make everything into a production.
5. TOO BUSY TO HAVE A LASTING INFLUENCE
After Lazarus’ resurrection, people impacted by Mary ended up placing their trust in Jesus. By contrast, although Martha was all over the place, the Bible makes no mention of her spiritual influence.
How sobering to think we can busy ourselves like crazy with a lot of good things, and fail to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.
Are you too busy? Yes, if you’re not making a lasting influence on others.
THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES WHEN WE COME TO JESUS BEFORE WE GET BUSY FOR HIM
In the end, Martha likely enjoyed a great reputation. No doubt she was a mover and a shaker. But my heart is tender toward her because I suspect she longed for more.
Although Martha worked hard, she still lacked peace and joy. I wonder what would have happened if she’d mustered enough courage, humility, and authenticity to stop what she was doing and also do the one thing that mattered most:
“Come to Me.”
Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Perhaps that’s exactly what happened.
Six days before Passover, Jesus paid yet another visit to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. Finally, Martha seemed to be quietly serving. At peace. Without resentment. And evidently content.
So they gave a dinner for Him there; Martha was serving them, and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.
That’s what being in the presence of Jesus will do for you.
Appreciated this. God has had to remind me of this over the past few years. And now I constantly try to check myself and ask whether it is the “eternally important” that directs my time. And am I content just to sit and bask in the daily goodness He has given me (my kids for example)? Also appreciated the reminder of motivation.
Margaret, when you respond to one of my blog posts I’m always encouraged. I know you’re always seeking more of Him, so anytime a blog post of mine helps you in that endeavor, it means the world to me. Thanks for taking the time to let me know.
I’m struggling with a 43 year long friendship with a Martha-like woman. She puts family and intimate friendships last on her list and now that her spouse died 4 years ago… her mania with busyness has gone into extreme overdrive. I am grieving and mourning the loss of a beloved friend because she is so busy, she can’t remember plans, yet piles more and more on herself. Everything she does is spiritualized so that no on will dare question her motives and after trying, with zero success to talk to her about her extremeness, she has shunned me. The worst part is her pattern of broken promises and big talk that never amounts to anything. I’m crushed.
Julie, how heartbreaking. I find it’s not that uncommon for busyness to be applauded, even when it takes us away from our First Love. I feel so much compassion for your friend, who likely is using her busyness to quiet her pain. Much like a drug. I’ll pray for you and your friend. Thanks so much for sharing.