"Busy or Committed?"

  People are on the run. The Lord's body finds itself so busy and many think that busyness is the sign of life and love for the Lord. Just listen to people when things slow down and they say, "We aren't doing anything for the Lord!" Too many equate busyness as a sign of serving the Lord. What it really states is the sign of American lifestyles! What does America believe? Look busy even if you aren't!! We must be careful that we don't equate busyness with commitment!

  Too many are 'over-committed'. We have gotten ourselves into a state of mind that we just cannot say 'no'! We really want to slow down a little but because of our programmed lives, we feel as if we must stay busy and work or we feel lost or life becomes meaningless. In this process of overcommitment, it drains and takes its toll on marriages, relationships and ultimately the church. When this overcommitment reaches the church and someone doesn't do what we think we ought to be committed to doing, then starts the accusations that we aren't doing anything. Busy in our work, busy in our running around and busy in the church! Are we missing something?

  Overcommitment isn't a sign of laboring for Jesus! It can be a cover-up for the lack of faith or guilt. People feel guilty when they aren't busy. Why is that? When we have programs, we run the program into the ground until people are worn out and most of the time, it's the same people over and over. We can't give up the work because we would feel this guilt!

  When one is committed to the Lord and His work, you begin to work from faith knowing that the Lord will open the doors that need opening. Sometimes being "still and know that I am God" (Psa. 46:10) is what is needed. One committed to the Lord will make certain things are put in their proper priorities. We run everywhere and accomplish little. We allow people to rule over us by prodding us, making us feel guilty if we don't respond to their requests. We run our children to every event under heaven and all this busyness begins to take it toll on genuine faith. Lines become blurred. Jesus was committed to the work of His Father but He often slipped away into the wilderness (or mountains) to pray! That's commitment! 

  Maybe it's time we slow down and re-examine our lives and our faith. To work for the Lord is to trust the Lord to open up doors for His kingdom and good. In the process, families need to be strengthened spiritually, as that is working for the Lord. We need as individuals to sit and be recharged from the word of the Lord. That's committed to the Lord! Sometimes we need to reflect, "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy." (Rom. 9:16)