I spent most of my 20s being “busy.” I didn't have much time for solitude or reflection, and I kept my calendar full, jumping from work to social events to church to everything else. For years, my mother continued to warn me to give myself some “space'' in my life, even though I was so worn out that I barely had time to breathe.
It didn't help that I lived in Washington, D.C., for most of my adult life. The city thrives on hustlers like me and preys on people with no boundaries or time for rest. The world assured me that I was thriving, but God saw that I was drowning.
When Jesus walked this earth, He never seemed to be in a hurry, but He was on a mission.
I wore my busyness as a badge of honor, and society admired it. But I almost got caught up in the culture of busyness. Many things suffered, including my health, spiritual walk, and quality of life. The chickens have come home to roost. These results ultimately showed me the need for a healthier lifestyle.
Our calendar says a lot about us. They show us what we value and prioritize. Time is a gift and how we spend it will tell us where our treasures are. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:21 tells us.
We've heard the cliché “I'm so busy” more times than I can count. It's almost like it's a competition to see who is busier. Because being busy means you're more important. Whether you're a soccer mom running from school pick-up to sports practice or a business executive running from one business meeting to the next, it seems like you don't have much time to spend on what really matters anymore. Many families I speak to say they're lucky if they can eat family dinner once a week, but this is a tragic reality.
But most people live like this. According to one survey, about 60% of Americans report feeling “too busy to enjoy life.” 2018 Pew Research Survey.
The truth is we all have the same amount of time. There are 24 hours in a day. Nothing more, nothing less. We are the ones who decide how to use the time God has allotted to us.
When Jesus walked this earth, He never seemed to be in a hurry, but He was on a mission. When the apostles asked Jesus how he was doing, I don't think he chattered about how busy he was. He lived his time intentionally. Jesus knew what his priorities were and was unwavering in them. Even when I was traveling somewhere or in the middle of something, I would stop at important times. Jesus did not live in a constant rush. When people needed him, he would drop everything he was doing and help them without being bound by the world's expectations or how they viewed him.
When Jesus was near Jericho on his way to Passover, a blind beggar cried out to him. The angry people scolded the man and told him to be quiet. Luke chapter 18 record. But instead of being bullied into silence by the crowd, the blind beggar continued to cry out to Jesus. Luke 18:40 “Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to Him.” Seeing the man's faith, Jesus stopped what he was doing and restored the blind man's sight.
The blind beggar went from being a hopeless outcast to seeing and following Jesus. Jesus made a huge difference in this man's life because he was not rushed.
The crowd was once again irritated because Jesus stopped again, even though they had just witnessed this miracle. Jesus purposely stopped to speak with Zacchaeus, the hated chief tax collector. Contrary to the beggar, Zacchaeus did not call and seek Jesus out; rather, Jesus sought him out under a plane tree, saying, “I must stay at your house today.''Luke 19:5). When this happened, the crowd “complained.” They didn't have time to eat lunch because they were about to go to Passover. But Jesus was not in any hurry. He knew that changing lives and hearts forever was far more important.
Like Jesus, we must live intentionally and make good use of our time.
Jesus took the time to visit Zacchaeus and changed his life from the inside out. He spent his time doing things that really mattered.
Mary and Joseph couldn't find 12-year-old Jesus for three days, but they found him in the temple. As the crowds continued to follow Jesus, Jesus withdrew in a boat to a desolate place. When he prayed, he went to a quiet place. Jesus “withdrew” from crowds, disciples, and distractions because time with God was so important. His father's job came first over what people thought of him, the number of followers he had, or the pressure to get the job done.
Jesus managed his time with purpose. God, who created time, sent his son to earth to show him the right way to live within the very boundaries of his creation.
Even if we don't manage time, time will manage us.
In his book Ordering Your Private World, Gordon Macdonald states that unmanageable time is spent primarily on four things. It flows towards our weaknesses. It will be under the influence of the dominant people. It will yield to the demands of any emergency. And it will be invested in things that will win public praise. If we don't allocate our time, that's what the world and ourselves naturally tend to do.
How many times do we get caught up in “me” focused priorities, like scrolling through our phones, buying things we don't need, or filling our calendars with activities that don't actually matter? Could it be? I am guilty on all counts and have a long way to grow in this field.
What if this year, like the blind beggar and Zacchaeus, we committed to truly living like Jesus by marking our calendars with opportunities to serve and touch the lives of others?
Rather than letting constant distractions and shiny objects grab your attention, such as scrolling on your phone, watching the news, or falling prey to shopping ads, you can learn that your priorities align with God's priorities. Must own a calendar to match. Often our schedules are full of “good” things, things that glorify God, but our priorities are completely wrong. We may serve Jesus with a sinful heart, put service above our own family, or serve others while neglecting our loved ones. Even when we appear to be serving God, there are many things we fail at.
The reality is that our time is non-refundable. It cannot be taken back. Like Jesus, we must live intentionally and make good use of our time. Busyness can be the enemy's main method of keeping us from holiness. But this year, we can commit to living a different life by ordering the world like Jesus did. We should focus on becoming holy rather than being busy.
Inspirational author and speaker Bob Goff says, “The battle for our hearts is fought on the pages of our calendars.”
