"Look Busy"

[ImaginaryDay]

I had a friend who had a magnet on his fridge that read "Jesus is coming, look busy". Of course, he wasn't a Christian, but I always got a chuckle out of seeing it. But I've been thinking about that recently. Things have been 'busy'. Much of the busy-work has been necessary (school, ministry at church...) and there are some things I've had to give up. But how often do we look at all our busy-ness in the context of being Christians and ask how much of it is meant to "look busy" for God? To "please" Him? I know that James emphasizes that faith without works is dead. And I believe it. We must persevere in our faith to obtain the prize. If someone would like to debate that POV, I ask that you do so in another thread. But how much do we look at what we do and analyse how much is born of faith and how much is born out of a 'need' to be pleasing to Him - to "look busy"?

 

[Kol]

I've been considering this too, lately. I remember James talking about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, and social work is no doubt helpful, but the question is, " is this building up the kingdom in me too? " We also are God's investment.

I want to be able to better things in the spirit, not just handing out cups of water, as important as that may be.

 

[mkgal1]

But how much do we look at what we do and analyse how much is born of faith and how much is born out of a 'need' to be pleasing to Him - to "look busy"?

Personally----I don't perceive "works" to necessarily be about "activity".....more about behavior or attitude. IOW.....our life to line up to our words. You know....."walk the walk....not just 'talk the talk' ".

 

[mkgal1]

I've been considering this too, lately. I remember James talking about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, and social work is no doubt helpful, but the question is, " is this building up the kingdom in me too? " We also are God's investment.

I want to be able to better things in the spirit, not just handing out cups of water, as important as that may be.

That's a good question to ask, I think. Another may be....."is this really driven by something I believe God wants of me.....or is it something out of guilt and pressure from others and a fear to say "no"?"

 

[DZoolander]

I've gotta admit - my interest has pretty much always been almost exclusively on works.

That's not to say that I believe "one can be saved through works" - but rather - that I believe the sign of righteousness is that you at least sincerely want to try.

 

[JCLover779]

That's a good question to ask, I think. Another may be....."is this really driven by something I believe God wants of me.....or is it something out of guilt and pressure from others and a fear to say "no"?"

That's a very good way to think about what we do.

 

[JCLover779]

But how much do we look at what we do and analyse how much is born of faith and how much is born out of a 'need' to be pleasing to Him - to "look busy"?

This is an interesting thought and I'm trying to sort it out.

At first, my thoughts were that "I'm not sure how many people are trying to "look busy" to God, but more to others." I don't fit in very well at church - and feel judged - because I usually don't attend the extra events like Bible Studies. I feel that is not where I am supposed to be at those times, but that isn't good enough for some others. (They think it's b/c I'm slipping, or whatever, in my faith.) It's hard to stand there and take the judgement, but I'm just not willing to add more "busy-ness" in order to look like I'm doing the right thing.

Then I thought of Mary and Martha, and that Martha very well could have been trying to be busy for the sole purpose of taking care of Jesus and those whom she loved (ie, the most important people - so, yes, to God). And I suppose that, since I was raised somehow with the view that I was only valuable for what I could do for others, I always have identified with Martha. And felt that Mary was a princess who got to sit around while Martha worked. How could that be better? But, because of my kids, I get the other side a bit - I spend a lot of time sitting with them and listening to their stories - so they know that they are important and valued - which is what Mary did. But in all other areas of my life, I feel tremendous pressure to perform. And ultimately, that performance is for God, though I somehow don't have faith that I am valuable enough to Him to just be.

So, yes, like James said, faith without works is dead. But I suspect that most of us don't find the right balance. Instead, I think we are either a little more Mary, or a little more Martha.

 

[Autumnleaf]

Christians tend to sleep through things. They woke up one day and the meaning of marriage had changed. They woke up one day and doctor assisted infanticide was legal. They woke up one day and divorce became socially acceptable.

There is an 80/20 rule that applies to most areas of life.

Pareto's Principle - The 80-20 Rule

I find that my life gets much simpler if I stick to the 20% that makes a difference. Jesus is a busy God but I don't think He's ever rushed.

 

[mkgal1]

This is an interesting thought and I'm trying to sort it out.

At first, my thoughts were that "I'm not sure how many people are trying to "look busy" to God, but more to others." I don't fit in very well at church - and feel judged - because I usually don't attend the extra events like Bible Studies. I feel that is not where I am supposed to be at those times, but that isn't good enough for some others. (They think it's b/c I'm slipping, or whatever, in my faith.) It's hard to stand there and take the judgement, but I'm just not willing to add more "busy-ness" in order to look like I'm doing the right thing.

I think you're absolutely doing the right thing to resist that pressure.

If you flip that around (and focus on the people that are judging you)....are they really behaving as if God's love is directing their behavior? Because I think that's what it all comes down to--not our busy-ness....but some fruit of His influence on our lives.

Then I thought of Mary and Martha, and that Martha very well could have been trying to be busy for the sole purpose of taking care of Jesus and those whom she loved (ie, the most important people - so, yes, to God). And I suppose that, since I was raised somehow with the view that I was only valuable for what I could do for others, I always have identified with Martha. And felt that Mary was a princess who got to sit around while Martha worked. How could that be better? But, because of my kids, I get the other side a bit - I spend a lot of time sitting with them and listening to their stories - so they know that they are important and valuable

Excellent points. That's what I believe demonstrates having the same priorities as God.

 

[ImaginaryDay]

I've been considering this too, lately. I remember James talking about feeding the hungry and clothing the naked, and social work is no doubt helpful, but the question is, " is this building up the kingdom in me too? " We also are God's investment.

I want to be able to better things in the spirit, not just handing out cups of water, as important as that may be.

I agree. Our "work" per se must build up not only the body, but strengthen us Spiritually. Otherwise, I believe it is just to look busy, or keep ourselves occupied with working until He comes, expecting a 'reward' for our good.

 

[ImaginaryDay]

Personally----I don't perceive "works" to necessarily be about "activity".....more about behavior or attitude. IOW.....our life to line up to our words. You know....."walk the walk....not just 'talk the talk' ".

Behavior and attitude are certainly key. In a sense (for me) it's a matter of growing in righteousness (i.e. the image and nature of Christ). So it's not a righteousness that's defined by me, but rather working to become more like Him - discerning what He would have me do and following through.

That's a good question to ask, I think. Another may be....."is this really driven by something I believe God wants of me.....or is it something out of guilt and pressure from others and a fear to say "no"?"

Sort of building from the comment above, this is where I need to be careful. I need to be (and I believe we all do) aware of what God would have me do, or is what I do something that is merely bowing to social pressure and demands? For one, I don't like to say 'no'. Having significant and healthy boundaries is still something I'm working on. This includes when to say 'yes' when it's appropriate as well as saying 'no' if I need to.

 

[JojotheBeloved]

I think the need to "look busy" comes more from American culture than from Christian values. Jesus didn't say that we were meant to be busy for Him or that we were supposed to be ready for when He comes back. He said His coming would be like a thief in the night and that there would be lots of happenings in the world but that the time would not be yet until we saw Him coming in the clouds. He did say to make disciples. Making disciples, at least in my experience, actually often requires slowing down a bit to have the ability to notice opportunities to connect with people on a heart-to-heart level. Solomon's proverbs and Ecclesiastes do have things to say about work - mainly just that we work at our best ability because we work for the Lord not only for other human beings - but it doesn't say to be busy or look busy all the time. There is also time for rest and reconnection. The compulsion to continuously be busy just for the sake of having something to do seems to be something that is culturally pressed in the USA and I personally feel it is an unhealthy and unreasonable way to live life.

 

[mkgal1]

I agree, Jojo.

 

[bluegreysky]

hahaha I Do That All Day At Work