R U 2 B.U.S.Y.?
by Mike Schmid, Navigators Military Ministry
I see the lines of tension on my friends' faces - and my own - and realize they come from the accelerating speed of life and its increasing demands. Why do we live at this pace? Consider the following "unseen scene," adapted from a story by Charles Spurgeon.
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't get rid of the Bibles or keep people from knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from becoming Believers. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches, let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time so they don't develop an intimate relationship with the Savior.
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day."
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to work long hours and the husbands to work six or seven days each week, ten to twelve hours a day so they can afford their empty lifestyles.
"Over stimulate their minds so they cannot hear that 'still small voice.' Entice them to play the radio or CD player whenever they drive. At home, kept the TVs, VCRs, CDs, and PCs going constantly. Fill their days with clutter and noise. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail-order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services, and false hopes.
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy!
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! It will work!"
It was quite a plan. The demons went eagerly to their assignments, causing Christians everywhere to get more busy and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme? I think I've fallen for it in the past. I'm learning anew how to avoid the trap.
You be the judge. Does "busy" mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?
May our Father deliver you and me from the "barrenness of busyness."
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matt. 11:28-30, The Message).
I see the lines of tension on my friends' faces - and my own - and realize they come from the accelerating speed of life and its increasing demands. Why do we live at this pace? Consider the following "unseen scene," adapted from a story by Charles Spurgeon.
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't get rid of the Bibles or keep people from knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from becoming Believers. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches, let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time so they don't develop an intimate relationship with the Savior.
"This is what I want you to do," said the devil. "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day."
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to work long hours and the husbands to work six or seven days each week, ten to twelve hours a day so they can afford their empty lifestyles.
"Over stimulate their minds so they cannot hear that 'still small voice.' Entice them to play the radio or CD player whenever they drive. At home, kept the TVs, VCRs, CDs, and PCs going constantly. Fill their days with clutter and noise. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail-order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services, and false hopes.
"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted. Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God's creation. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead. Keep them busy, busy, busy!
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause. It will work! It will work!"
It was quite a plan. The demons went eagerly to their assignments, causing Christians everywhere to get more busy and more rushed, going here and there, having little time for their God or their families.
I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme? I think I've fallen for it in the past. I'm learning anew how to avoid the trap.
You be the judge. Does "busy" mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?
May our Father deliver you and me from the "barrenness of busyness."
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matt. 11:28-30, The Message).
