Are You Too Busy?
The Bible has much to say about being busy for God.There is a danger, however, of being too busy. Someone coined the expression, "Beware of the barrenness of a busy life."
One of the most notable examples of being too busy was Eli, the high priest and judge of Israel. He tried to do two jobs, but all his busyness was in vain. Eli was so busy in his work for God that he had little time left for his family. He was a priest of God in the temple, but failed as a father to his children. His sons lived in sin because they had never been taught the truth. Eli was too busy. As judge of Israel, he was forced to be away from home many days and nights. In reality, his children had no father. They drifted into the ways of the world until their lives became abominable.
Busyness is a temptation that confronts many Christians. Few of us as parents can say we have not been guilty. How often the sons and daughters of ministers, missionaries, and Christian workers have fallen into sin because they were neglected by one or both of their busy parents. It is hard to realize that such a tragedy could happen, but it does. As a matter of fact, it is happening all the time.
Eli's failure was not only recognizable in his home, it was seen in his spiritual life. He was so busy caring for the Lord's work that he overlooked the importance of reserving needed time to fellowship with the Lord.
My dad was a carpenter and builder. He always had plenty of work to do. But whenever anything needed repairing at home, he had no time to fix it. He was busily caring for everyone else's need but his own home was neglected.
Often God's people are busily engaged in the work of God to the extent that they overlook the value of their own relationship to the Lord. There is the constant temptation to be busy for the Lord while neglecting our own Bible reading and prayer. If we are not spending time with the Lord, all our busyness in serving Him will be of little value.
There seemed to be little effectiveness for God during the days of Eli. In fact, it even seemed as though he was cut off from heaven. He performed all the mechanics of being the judge and priest for Israel, but because of the barrenness of his own heart resulting from his lack of fellowship with God, he accomplished very little.
I have been a Christian almost seventy years and, frankly, I admit there have been times of barrenness in my own life. At these times, when I preached, I went through the motions and spoke the right words, but my heart was cold. When Sunday rolled around it was time to preach whether I was ready or not.
Maybe I am describing your situation. You are busy performing all the work of the ministry. Your schedule is crammed from early morning until late at night. But being honest with God and yourself, you must confess the emptiness of your own life. Nothing can be more frustrating in God's work than this. A barren heart results in a fruitless life. What would you think of a farmer who sowed seed year after year but never saw any harvest? There are many servants of God—pastors, Sunday School teachers, missionaries, and others—who are sowing seed but never seeing fruit. I am sure there are exceptions, but as a general rule the trouble is usually the same as Eli's, "too busy."
Let me offer a word of warning. If you are so busy that you have little or no time to spend with God, soon you will get into a state where you will have no desire to look to God. This can only result in a sorrowful defeat, for without any desire to look to God, heaven will be closed; preaching, witnessing, and service will all be of the flesh without the anointing of the Spirit. The rest remains hopeless. Like Eli, you may talk and preach, using the proper words and familiar vocabulary, but there will be no blessing from God. Probably it would be better to say nothing and do nothing than to labor in such a state. How necessary that we heed Zachariah 4:6, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
Anyone who serves Christ in the energy of the flesh is wasting his or her time. Without the fulness of the Holy Spirit, little or nothing will be achieved. God declares in Romans 8:8, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. Do you think for a moment that you can honor the Lord without pleasing Him?
Learn the lesson from Eli's failure. He was not a bad man. In fact, I do not see any intimation in the Bible that he was bad. He was a good man, but he was too busy. If this is true of you, what should you do about it? There is only one thing to do. This is the best thing you can do. God makes it clear in 1 John 1:9 that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Go to your knees! Tell the Lord you are guilty! Assure Him that you want cleansing. Ours is a God of grace and love, a forgiving God. He wants to forgive you. Let Him do it. These are days of opportunity. We who are in Christ are called to be ambassadors for God. We are His representatives in an evil and corrupt generation. Let God live thr!ough you! Be His servant. Honor Him in fruitful service. If you are not a Christian, having never invited the Lord Jesus to come into your life, I beseech you to do it now. God sent His only Son to die on the cross for you. Claim Him as your Lord!
J. Allen Blair
How To Have A Quiet Time
Dr. Blair wrote, "Try to meet with the Lord the first thing in the morning. If you let it go until later in the day..." The rest of what he wrote can be read when you ask us to send you the message in print, How To Have A Quiet Time. Did you ever wonder what you are supposed to do during the "quiet time?" Dr. Blair can help you know what to do. Write or call for your free copy.
REFLECTIONS with Dr. Blair
Entering the New Year, you may be wondering about the future. In all probability, it will be as former years with both good times and bad times.
One thing is sure–For the Lord will not forsake His people for His great name's sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people (1 Samuel 12:22). If you have received Christ as your Savior and Lord, you need not fear. Though things may change, He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
If we will just walk by faith and trust Christ to lead us and direct us according to His holy will, the New Year can be a truly happy year.
BE LIKE CHRIST!
Pastor Geoffrey Janes
I love to ride, and try to get out as often as I can. I love my bike and take great care of it. Nobody is allowed to touch it! The other day I was out riding and pulled up to a stop light. As I waited for the light to turn, this guy pulled up next to me on his little Wal-Mart bike. He was dressed in jeans, with a jacket and baseball cap. I was dressed out in cycling gear, trying to look as professional as I could.
When the light turned green, the guy took off as quickly as he could, as if he were challenging me to a race. He pedaled hard, his foot slipped off several times, his chain clanked, and his bike clattered as he pedaled as fast as he could. Of course, once I got going, I overtook him with no effort.
We recently discovered that one of our five purposes is to be like Christ. But it is so hard, and we are so inadequate. As I passed the guy on the bike, I was reminded of our pathetic attempts at life. We pull up next to Jesus on Sunday morning. We listen to the message, sing the songs, and then race out the doors, as if to say–"I can be like Jesus. I can live this life!" But then our foot slips, our chain comes off, or worse yet, we fall off the bike. And we haven't even gotten to our car yet!
But rather than just pass us, with an air of superiority, Jesus stops right there with us, picks us up, puts our chain back on, and gets us going again.
We are here to become like Christ. One of our reasons for existence is to be like Jesus. Although it is difficult, and although we fail, we must get back up, keep our eyes focused on Jesus, and continue to emulate Him, to become like Him in every area of our lives.
(Geoffrey is Dr. Blair's grandson and serves as Pastor of Students at the Green Valley Baptist Church, Henderson, NV.)
What Do You Do with An Offense?
When someone offends, what are we to do? During a recent disappointment, my wife and I shared some verses we had read in our daily devotions. Isaiah says, He was wounded for our transgressions, so let's just substitute offenses in that verse. He was wounded for our offenses. After being wounded, He forgave us.
Since He did that for us–there is our answer!
Gary Janes