To Those Who Are "Too Busy"

Hello “Too Busy,”

            Yeah, I know. I’ve heard it before. You would read your Bible more but you are just “too busy.” You have been meaning to come back to church but you “can’t find the time.” You have thought about agreeing to serve in that specific ministry but you have so much going on with all those other activities that there is simply no way you could devote yourself to it.

            I hear what you are saying but I’m not sure that actually is the case. Perhaps the issue here is not that you are “too busy” at all but maybe it goes a little deeper than that. Could the reason for your neglect of these things actually stem from the fact that you don’t want to do them? That it is not on account of how much time you have. We all have been given the same amount when you think about it. There are 24 hours in a day for each of us. It is what we do with that time that counts.

            You see, here is how we human beings operate. We always seem to make time for the things that we love and enjoy. We’ll even sacrifice certain activities to make way for such things and not ever think about it as being a sacrifice. This is why in the midst of a hectic schedule, you can be sure not to miss your favorite TV show or sports team play. Why there is always time to devote to your hobby, whatever it may be. And why if you are given free tickets to go to the concert of that singer you like or to be in the stadium to root your team on (say the Steelers for instance since I live in what is known as "Steelers' Country" in Southwestern PA), you will rearrange your chores and obligations in order to be there. In fact, you may even be surprised that your busy schedule cleared up just enough of a block of time to work this in! So, is the issue then that you are “too busy?” Or could it be that you really do not want to? Because if you had a desire for them, then you would be doing them; even if that meant saying “no” to some other things and changing your schedule. Please be honest with yourself with what is actually going on instead of using “busyness” as an excuse.

            If your neglect of your Bible reading, regular church attendance, and active involvement in ministry can be traced to you not having a desire to do them, then perhaps you should be concerned about your relationship with the Lord, or even if you have a relationship with Him at all. (Please know that I write this out of love for you and in having a concern for your soul! I want you to have the joy of truly knowing Christ and walking in a growing relationship with Him.) Here is why I say this. Take a husband and wife for example. If a husband never spends time with his wife and always puts other things before her, you probably would question his commitment to her. There clearly is a problem in the relationship.  The same could be said for someone who professes to love Jesus but He is not important enough to them to make time to commune with Him through reading His Word, being with His people, and doing His work. He is basically being pushed aside for other things.

            Should this letter apply to you, I encourage you to repent of your neglect of God Himself and passionately seek Him above all else. Grace and mercy can always be found at the cross! Pursue Him for your ultimate joy. Set aside time to read His Word and be with His people. You will not regret it! As the Lord Himself says, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Love in Christ,

Pastor Lee