How to Deal With Busyness
Today we are continuing our series Stressbusters. We are going through the 23rd Psalm and looking at seven ways we can relieve stress in our lives. Last week we looked at the problem of worry and found God’s Antidote for Worry. Today we are going to be looking at God’s Antidote for Busyness.
How many of you would say that you are busy? If you meet someone at the store or run into them while shopping, they almost invariably will tell you how busy they are. They will start rattling off a list of activities they have planned to do.
Americans are busier than ever. Busyness has become an epidemic in our lives. Let me give you an example. Dinner time. The picture of the family sitting down at six o’clock and eating a home cooked meal together has almost disappeared. More Americans are eating their meals in restaurants then ever before. The words, “Let’s just grab something to eat.” – even carries with it the sense of busyness in our lives. Did you know that many fast food establishments don’t call themselves restaurants but call themselves "stores"? By calling themselves stores it gives the impression these places are not a place to go and enjoy a meal – but they are a place were we go to shop for meal. Many of the fast food places keep records of the amount of time it takes the customer to place the order until the food is delivered in their hands. The goal is to get as many customers through the "store" as they can in the least amount of time. This is another example of how busy we are in our lives.
A recent CNN pole said that 59% of all Americans would like to slow down and relax more. What is God’s antidote for our busy lives – it’s found in Psalm 23 verse 2.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Psalms 23:2 (NKJV)
The prescription for pressured people is this – RELAX. Today we are going to use the word relax as an acrostic to see God’s antidote for busyness.
RELAX
R – Realize God wants you to REST.
The only way that we can only really enjoy life is by getting enough rest. The only way that you have enough energy to make it through another day is take the time to rest. That’s the way God has designed us. Look at Psalm 127:2 with me.
It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know God enjoys giving rest to those he loves? Psalms 127:2 (MSG)
Do you remember the American proverb: “Early to bed, Early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthily and wise?” How does that saying start? Early to bed – get some rest. Psalm 127 says it pretty plain –
It’s USELESS to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know God enjoys giving rest to those he loves?
God never intended for us to work ourselves to death. That is not the way He designed us. God never intended for people to work 7 days a week. Look at Exodus 23:12 with me:
Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed. Exodus 23:12 (NKJV)
This verse even tells us why we need to rest. Rest so you can be refreshed. Let me give you a word of warning about your day of rest though – it’s found in Mark 2:27
The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath. Mark 2:27 (MSG)
What this means is that the Sabbath is there for your benefit not the other way around. Be careful not to become legalistic about the Sabbath. God knows that you need rest to recharge and revitalized. His will is to keep to healthy mentally, spiritually and physically. Rest so you can be refreshed.
Realize God Wants You To Rest.
E – Evaluate your CHOICES
In our society there is an explosion of choices. We now have more opportunities available to us than ever before. We have more channels to watch, more products to buy, more activities to participate in then ever before. We are bombarded with choices every day. What will we wear? What will we eat? Where will we buy? What activities will we be involved in? Some choices for us are very simple – others are quiet complicated. How are we to make the right choices? How are we even to evaluate our choices? Let me give you four questions to ask to help you evaluate your choices.
Question One: Is it HELPFUL?
“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NKJV)
Question Two: Does it bring me under its POWER?
“All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12 (NKJV)
Question Three: Does it hurt OTHERS?
“Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” 1 Corinthians 8:13 (NKJV)
Question Four: Does it glorify GOD?
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)
Use thes four questions to help you make choices in life. You’ll be better for it.
Realize God Wants You To Rest.
Evaluate your choices.
L – Limit your LABOR.
I must set aside time to do other things besides work. I need to plan my time alone with God and my family. I am finding that the best day of the week for me to take off is Friday. I like to come in on Monday so I can get a jump start on Sunday’s sermon. By Thursday I try to have everything ready for the weekend. So Friday seems to be the best day for me to take off. I need time off from work just like everyone else. If I’m working all the time I’m dumb. That is not what God intended for our lives. If the bow in never unstrung it will loose its power.
A lady called a pastor one day upset. She said, “I called all day on Friday and couldn’t get through to you.” Pastor: “Friday is my day off.” Lady: “The devil never takes a day off.” Pastor: “Yes, and if I didn’t take a day off I’d be just like the devil.”
Look at what it says in Exodus 20:
8 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, Exodus 20:8-9 (NKJV)
God says that one day off a week is the rule. This is the fourth commandment of the Big Ten. It’s so important that its right up there with Thou shall not murder. That’s how serious God takes this. Every seventh day take a day off. If you’re not taking a day off you’re breaking the Ten Commandments. Sabbath means a day of rest. Colossians says it doesn’t matter what day you choose as long as you choose one every week. Sunday is not my Sabbath – it’s a work day for me.
What should you do on your day off – on your Sabbath? Three things:
1. Rest your BODY.
2. Recharge your EMOTIONS.
3. Refocus your SPIRIT.
Realize God Wants You To Rest.
Evaluate your choices.
Limit your labor.
A – Adjust your VALUES.
Do you remember this story in the Bible?
As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?"… You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother." He said, "Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!" Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, "There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me. "The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go. Mark 10:17-22 (MSG)
Do you know what that is a story about? It’s a story about adjusting your values. In order to reduce busyness in my life I must change my thinking about what is important. Ecclesiastes says it this way:
I observed all the work and ambition motivated by envy. What a waste! Smoke. And spitting into the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4 (MSG)
If I’m working just to keep up with the Jones’ - it’s senseless. If I want more stuff and I am working myself to death - it’s stupid. Stuff doesn’t bring happiness.
Realize God Wants You To Rest.
Evaluate your choices.
Limit your labor.
Adjust your values.
eXchange your pressure for God’s PEACE.
This gets us to the very root of stress. There are three types of fatigue:
1. There is PHYSICAL fatigue. A tired body.
2. There is EMOTIONAL fatigue. Tired emotions and feelings.
3. There is SPIRITUAL fatigue. A dry spirit. This is the deepest type of fatigue.
You may need a vacation but that will not help you with the last two. You need more than just time off to deal with your emotions and your spirit. You need a relationship with God. You need God’s presence in your life. Look at Psalm 23:2 again:
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Psalms 23:2 (NKJV)
Circle the words “He makes me”. God’s presence is right there. A little child does not like to lie down and rest. Resistance to rest is a mark of immaturity. God wants us to rest. Take life at His pace. The only way you can do that is by putting God in charge of your life. Listen to this Psalm for the overly busy.
A Psalm for the Overly Busy.
The Lord is my pacesetter, I don’t have to rush. He makes me take rest breaks to refresh my soul. He calms my mind, He calms my spirit, He refreshes my body. He leads me in a way that is pleasing to Him. When I think that there is too much for me to handle – He assures me that He is by my side. I don’t have to worry, I don’t have to fuss. He has shown me how to be rested, recharged,refocused and restored. The blessings He gives me bubble over. Surely effectiveness and efficiency are a part of my life. I will walk at the Lord’s pace all of my days of my life and I will live with Him forever.
You need a pacesetter in your life so you don’t go too fast or too slow. The only person wise enough to set your pace is Jesus Christ because He knows you inside and out. He knows the speed you need to go. When you live with God at the center of your life you’ll have rest and refreshment.
