We’ve established that busyness can negatively impact ministry. Time management that enables us to make an eternal difference won’t happen if we don’t get to the root of our need for, perhaps we could even say addiction to, being busy. Here we want to consider that perhaps it’s because we’ve fallen into one of Satan’s traps. If we’re tangled up in all we have to “do”, we won’t have time to “be” and that’s a problem as we read in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”.
How Satan Leads Us Astray
We must first understand how Satan works in order to accept the possibility that his lies could be at the root of some our busyness problem. Our first introduction to Satan comes early on in Genesis where he is described as crafty (Gen. 3:1), being able to trick Eve into believing God didn’t really mean what He said so they could eat from the tree. Just as “Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning” so our “minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). Satan “is a liar and the father of lies” (Jn. 8:44). If he can twist our thinking, our actions will follow.
How to Combat the Lies about Busyness
So, it then becomes important for us to identify any of the lies we might believe in order to take the thoughts captive and demolish any strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4-5). When it comes to busyness, perhaps we believe …
our sense of worth or identity is tied into busyness. We’re needed. People can’t manage without us. The busier we are, the more important and indispensable we must be.
we have to do it all. No one else can do it as well as we can. Or, it takes too much time to train and oversee others to do what we do so we may as well just do it ourselves.
it’s normal to be busy and always on the go. It just a part of life in the modern age. Everybody’s busy.
we can’t do anything about it. We have responsibilities. People are depending on us. The work must get done.
It isn’t enough to merely identify the lies. We must take them captive and demolish any strongholds (2 Cor. 10:5). In doing that, we must replace the lies with truth. What might the truth be we need to grab ahold of regarding the above lies?
Our worth isn’t in what we do but who we are in Christ. Further, being busy doesn’t mean we’re making a difference. We could be busy with the wrong things. God’s objective is that we’re fruitful and that requires abiding in Christ (Jn. 15:1-5).
Getting the work done with excellence isn’t all that matters. God is just as concerned with the process. When we don’t delegate, we’re robbing others of the opportunity to do their part (Eph. 4:16). We’re functioning independently rather than interdependently. We need to follow God’s purposes and design rather than be concerned about the time it takes. It’s not about our convenience or what seems expedient.
What’s normal doesn’t necessarily mean right. We’re not to conform to the world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds which all begins with submitting our lives to the Lord (Rom. 12:1-2). Does “normal” set the focus on spending time with the Lord (Lk. 10:38-42), on seeking first God’s kingdom (Matt. 6:33)? Does “normal” follow Jesus’ example of getting away from the demands of people to a quiet place for rest and talking with the Father (Mk. 6:31-32; Lk. 5:16)?
So much of our time management is a choice. We may be busy with a lot of good but is it the best? Jesus told Martha, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Lk. 10:41-42). What’s most important to us? The reality is that we usually find time for what we deem important.
God set the number of days in a week and the number of hours in a day. Surely He is aware of the time needed for us to fulfill His purposes, follow His design for the Church, and accomplish His mission. The problem comes when we’re following our own purposes, doing things our way or the way of the world, and setting our own agenda. We tend to be more susceptible to doing that when we believe the lies of the enemy. Let’s find our strength in the Lord and put on His armor so we can “take our stand against the devil’s schemes” and “stand our ground” (Eph. 6:10-17).
For More on These Topics:
All Posts about Time Management:
- Disciple-Making Schedules
- Sustainable Schedules
- Prioritized Schedules: The Number One Priority
- Prioritized Schedules: The Second Priority
- Accountable Schedules
- Spiritually Blessed Schedules
- Spiritually Productive Schedules
- Hindrances to Spiritual Productivity
- Time for One Another
- Christ-like Schedules are Purposeful
- Time Managed by the Gospel
- Tips for Gospel-oriented Time Management
- Grace for These Times and How You Manage Your Schedule
- The Difference Grace Makes in How We Manage Time
- The Spirit Helps Us Manage Time
- How Spiritual Gifts Help with Time Management
- Busyness Affects Ministry
- Combatting the Lies about Busyness
- Too Busy to Pray?
- Biblical Prayers about Time Usage
- Good Stewards of Our Time
- Managing Time in the Name of the Lord
- Let God’s Word Guide the Use of Your Time