Busy-ness is a topic that has been on my heart for a while. Perhaps it's come to a head since I returned last month from four weeks of ministry in Europe, immediately made two trips in New England, and then spent two days at a family funeral in Rhode Island. Yes, my spring schedule has been busy ... jam-packed as a matter of fact.
Actually, as I look around me I notice an awful lot of other people in similar situations. So, here's the question: When does busy become too busy?
Since 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 is true I decided to turn to Scripture in my search for the dividing line between Busy and Too Busy.
Of the seven references I found in the NIV and the one additional one in the KJV, 1 Peter 4:15, all but one use the word "busy" in a negative sense - interesting.
1 Kings 18 reports the events of the clash between Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal. The prophets had prepared the bull they were given and called out to Baal all morning to ignite their offering. "At noon Elijah began to taunt them, "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." (v. 27) Elijah is accusing Baal of being occupied with other things that are keeping him away from this important event. The implication is two-fold: Baal is not powerful enough to take care of everything on his plate, and he is allowing other things to keep him from this critical test of his powers. Being too busy kept Baal from keeping his priorities straight.
A bit further along, in 1 Kings 20, we learn about the consequences of being too busy. God's prophet set a hypothetical situation concerning a servant who was to guard a prisoner before King Ahab. If the prisoner escaped the servant would have to pay with his own life or a large amount of silver that he would never be able to accumulate. "While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared." (v. 40) The King replied that the sentence was obvious: since the servant couldn't pay the amount of silver he would have to forfeit his life. The prophet explained to King Ahab that his own life and the lives of his people would be required because he had released a man God had determined should die. Being too busy cost King Ahab his life and the people of Israel much humiliation under Jehu and Jehoahaz.
Isaiah 32:6 also speaks of being busy. "For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil: He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the Lord; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water." A life preoccupied with evil leads to godlessness, falsehood, and a lack of compassion. Being too busy in the wrong direction leads to foolishness and folly.
Haggai 1 also addresses the issue of being busy. "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the Lord Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house." (v. 9) God brought drought on HIs people because they were so wrapped up in their own "things" that they did not pay attention to His sanctuary. Being too busy with self-centered activities leads to direct, negative, all-encompassing consequences.
Paul warned the Thessalonians against being idle. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-10 make it clear that idleness is not a desirable trait. Believers are alerted not only to avoid it in their own lives, but to keep away from those who are idle. The specific rule is, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." It is important for God's people to be busy. Verse 11 adds clarification, "We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies." There are people who appear active, but rather than attending to their own walk of faith they interfere in other people's lives. Being too busy in the lives of others is a sign of the sin of idleness.
This error is further outlined in 1 Timothy 5. "Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about form house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to." (v. 13) There are those who forsake the tending of their own homes to meddle in the homes of others. Being too busy trying to run the lives of other people results in the sin of slander.
The KJV reference for being busy is 1 Peter 4:15, "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's affairs." Busybodies, those described by Paul as seemingly-active idlers who are obsessed with the lives of others, are on the list with murderers, thieves and evildoers. Peter wants God's children to know that they ought to avoid being pre-occupied outside their own purview as much as they avoid these other deadly sins. Being too busy "other focused" leads to reasonable, expected negative consequences.
The final reference to the word busy is found in Titus 2 and is addressed primarily to women. In this epistle Paul explains to Titus how to carry on the building up of Christ's Church. He begins the instructions to women with specific directions about how older women are to live. He continues with what they are to teach to the younger women. "Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." (v. 4,5)
This passage does not stand alone. It is one reference among several on this topic and a single portion of all of Scripture. Much is said about the role of women, but we will concentrate on this one word here. Older women are called to live in such a way that they will be godly role models, "Then they can train". One of the specific examples they are to set and train is to be "busy at home". This is the only place where the word busy is used in a positive sense. That doesn't mean that being busy is only appropriate for women and in the home. Rather, with all of the other teachings, alerts and warnings in place is it biblically permissible/directed for women to be active in the roles they pursue in their homes.
The truth is that I've never found a home where there isn't plenty to keep a woman busy. However, I've been intimately aware of homes where being idle and/or being too busy has been evident. I say intimately because I've had those seasons in my own life. So ... how do we stay busy without becoming too busy? The Scriptures describe a series of flags that should warn us when we're getting too close to or have crossed that dividing line.
Flag #1
I’m too busy when I my Christian duties get short-circuited. I’m not talking about a little bump here or there. I mean when my personal quiet time with my heavenly Father becomes basically non-existent, or my attendance at church is hit-or-miss, or my regular Bible study falls by the wayside, or my prayer time with my brothers and sisters gets suspended.
Flag #2
I need to seek the Lord about being too busy when the circumstances around me deteriorate. Hebrews 12:1-13
Flag #3
I’m too busy when I catch myself in a habit of sin, especially those sins where God has already granted me victory. Having a bad attitude, participating in gossip, lacking compassion, shaving the truth, forgetting to thank and praise His Name are as red as the flags for murder, theft, evil, etc.
Flag #4
I’m too busy when I become so focused on my little world that I neglect the local body where God has placed me. This shortfall can be in the area of the physical plant or redeemed relationships.
Flag #5
I’m too busy when I’m spending more time and energy worrying about, tending to, and/or talking about other people than I am to my own life - physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Flag #6
I’m too busy when I’m thinking about how to fix a situation in someone else’s life while my house and/or relationships are in disarray.
Flag #7
I’m too busy when I forget that obsessing over outside situations is on the same level as murder and theft.
Flag #8
I’m biblically busy when my mind, heart and spirit are focused on the domain God has laid out for me, seeking to please Him in all I am and do as I set my priorities according to the tasks He has laid out before me. Acts 17: 24-28, Psalm 19:14, Ephesians 2:10
Hallelujah, God is never too busy! He always has His ears tuned to us. He hears our humble cries and responds with love and deliverance. Psalm 34 To God be the glory forever and ever Amen
