Busy and Distracted — Part II

Last week I wrote about busy-ness, specifically activities or cares that take our focus away from The Truth and doing God’s will. I also believe busy-ness makes it easier for us to miss the profound gifts, beauty and relationships that The Father desires for His children.

I’m sure that busy-ness hinders us from much more than the examples below, but the following specific areas are on my heart this morning.

1. Busy-ness can blind us from seeing amazing hearts and lives:

In 1 Samuel 16:1 The Lord gave Samuel the task of anointing a new king. If Samuel had only focused upon the importance of his task, and how to accomplish his role, he very well could have missed the stellar life and amazing heart that stood before him. He could have missed God’s chosen king because David was simply a ruddy youth with bright eyes (see 1 Samuel 16:6-13).

David’s father Jesse hurriedly overlooked him, BUT God, who is never in a hurry, did not overlook David!

God took the time to examine David’s heart and He loved what He observed. It’s not just David that could have been easily overlooked, The Word is clear that some of the most amazing saints in history weren’t much to look upon. Let me say it another way — for those quickly rushing to the market, it would have been easy to pass by and overlook John the Baptist (Matthew 3:4) and even Jesus Christ Himself (Isaiah 53:1-3). Is there an amazing saint, a good heart or a brilliant life in your neighborhood or city that you are overlooking because you’re too busy to notice?

2. Busy-ness hinders spiritual togetherness:

Once you find a godly heart similar to the ones I listed above you should make time to be together. Busy-ness hinders relationships but togetherness fosters relationships. After disobeying, Adam and Eve were too busy fearing, hiding and isolating themselves to walk and talk with The Lord God (Genesis 3:7-10) and consequently their relationship with Him suffered. Christians are to specifically set apart Sunday for togetherness. In Hebrews 10:24-25 believers are commanded to gather for the purpose of activating one another to good works.

The challenge in 2017 is that Sunday is a prime day for “me time.”

Sunday seems like the perfect day to have fun, to work out, to be entertained or to go shopping. The early church is held up as a standard of excellence and I would point out that they were not too busy to be together. The church obeyed together, prayed together and ate together (Acts 2:1, 41-42) — their existence was together!  Consider this: How would Christ’s church be different today if His disciples were too busy to be together on the first Pentecost? It wouldn’t be the same, would it?!

3. Busy-ness can keep us from properly appreciating sensual experiences:

I believe the word “sensual” has a negative connotation in most churches, but God created our 5 senses and appropriate ways for us to enjoy the sounds, sights, smells and savors of the world around us. When sensual experiences come from God and lust (illicit desire) and selfishness are not present, these gifts are good. What I mean by this is that God formed Adam and placed him in a perfect garden. In Eden there must have been brightly colored birds singing, succulent fruit to enjoy (except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil), lovely fragrances wafting from the flowers and lush foliage vistas to see. Adam was welcome to enjoy all of these wonders. Genesis 2:9 says it well

“Out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.”

God made the garden sensual for Adam and Eve to enjoy. Song of Solomon 5:1 also calls out pleasant scents, sweet food and satiating drinks in a garden environment with beloved friends. When we’re too busy to savor a majestic sunrise, a blossoming peony or the music of a babbling brook, we miss an opportunity to appreciate the wonder of God’s creation and The One who made everything good for His good pleasure (and for us to gratefully appreciate). And I should note that God’s Word is clear that hearing is a very important sense, for “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17) and Psalm 119:103 tells us that God’s Words are very sweet!

God wants His children to be together. He wants us to share our hearts and lives with one another and He wants us to hear, see and taste the beauty He has created. Are we too busy to receive what He has for us today?

Additional Verses: 1 Kings 8:65-66, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 63:5, Jeremiah 31:11-14 and Romans 8:31-32.