It has been said that the average American’s life can be summed up in three words: hurry, worry, and bury! We are all busy people. We are pulled in a thousand different directions, and a multitude of causes bid constantly for our time, energy, and influence. We are drawn by civic, social, domestic, charitable, and religious demands.
In the midst of this busy age there is one real danger. It is that we shall be too busy for God. There is the possibility that we shall become so concerned about and involved in the trivial and temporal that we forget about the eternal and spiritual.
Martha had this problem. Her story is found in Luke 10:38-42. Jesus was visiting her house and she was busy preparing a meal for him. Her sister Mary, instead of helping with the cooking, sat at Jesus’ feet listening to his words. Presently Martha became exasperated and complained about Mary’s failure to help out in the kitchen. Jesus said, “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.”
There are many things in life that seem urgent, but there is one thing that is needful. It is a personal relationship with Christ. We must not become too busy for that. We must not let the good things in life crowd out the best. The Bible says, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Unless we take time to “be still” in prayer and worship, we shall never know God in his fullness.
Our relationship with Christ is eternal. It will not pass away as most things will. The finest things in life do not crowd. The things that do not matter very much do. Therefore, in this busy age, do not become too busy for God.