If overloading ourselves has the ability to cause emotional, relational and spiritual dysfunction, why do we continually do it? The number one reason is that we do not see this as a problem. We simply assume that this is the way that life is and there is nothing that we can do about it. The second reason is that we do not realize that there is an alternative. So we continue to follow the lead of our culture living a life trapped on the exercise wheel going full speed but getting nowhere. We don’t set out to overload ourselves but we mistakenly believe that one more thing will not hurt. Guess what, God did not design us to live life this way. In fact as we have explored the last couple of weeks God’s will for us is for us to live within the boundaries and limits that He has set. When we begin to live within these boundaries we begin to develop what is known as margin. Margin is simply the space in between our load and our limits. Margin is that space that allows for the unexpected situations that life throws our way. In our text, Jesus provides us with a powerful example of how to maintain margin in our lives. As the sun was setting the line of those seeking healing continued to grow. Jesus apparently works through the night but at day break enough was enough and He withdrew to a solitary place for some renewal and refreshment. Jesus realized that life should never get so busy that there is no time for those quite times alone with God. Today we are going to discover the Great Physicians prescription for breaking the cycle and stepping off the exercise wheel.
I. Life often becomes a frenzy of activity causing us to be stretched way too thin.
A. Peaceful days can often unexpectedly turn into a stressful frenzy of activities.
1. This world is far from perfect, due to that fact we can count on our life being will interrupted by unexpected demands.
2. There is an Ecuadorian proverb that states, “Everything takes longer than it does.”
3. On average we experience one interruption every eight minutes. Over the course of twenty-four hours that translates to one-hundred-sixty-eight interruptions per day. The average interruption requires five minutes. So interruptions cut fourteen hours out of an average day.
4. Our problem is that there is no room in our lives for the unexpected. We are scheduled so tightly that anything unexpected throws everything out of whack.
5. Living lives that have next to no margin allows us no breathing room and no room for those unexpected things that always seem to appear out of nowhere.
6. Because of the lack of margin in our lives the unexpected usually has the ability to knock the props out from under us.
B. Even Jesus was not exempt from having a peaceful day suddenly turning into a frenzy of activity.
1. As our text begins Jesus is enjoying a quiet Sabbath at Peter’s house. The Sabbath was designed for man to be able to enjoy a day of renewal and worship.
2. Word has spread about Jesus’ miracles but not wanting to violate the laws in regard to travel on the Sabbath the people waited to sunset when the Sabbath was over to come to Jesus.
3. As the sunset people were now able to travel, carry loads and be healed so they came to Peter’s house bringing all those who needed to be healed.
4. The Greek word used here for brought is phero which means to carry a burden or to move by carrying. This verb is in the imperfect tense which means this was a continuous action.
5. Then we have the demons proclaiming Jesus’ identity as they are cast out. This had to be stressful since the timing was not right.
6. Jesus’ way of handling the unexpected shows that the way we respond to those unexpected interruptions speak volumes about the depth of our love.
7. Jesus shows that we were put on this earth to love and serve others. The extent to which we accomplish this is the only true measure of success.
II. To remain healthy emotionally, relationally and spiritually we need to make space for times of refreshment and renewal.
A. Jesus’ example shows that regardless of how hectic our lives are we need to make room for God.
1. During His earthly ministry Jesus consistently withdrew to quiet places for times refreshment and prayer.
2. Despite that busy evening of healing, Jesus got up early the next morning and went out to a quiet place to be alone with the Father even though He was probably exhausted by all the activity.
3. It would not be a stretch to say that it was difficult for Jesus to find time to spare but He saw the time alone with God as being essential.
4. Even as the sun was coming up, people will still lining up in front of Peter’s house but Jesus was nowhere to be found.
5. Jesus was popular, people were hoping to see more miracles and when they did not find Him they searched everywhere for Him.
6. Despite all the distractions Jesus remained exceptionally focused on His primary goal of bringing God honor and glory by accomplishing His will.
B. We cannot allow ourselves to become so busy that we do not make time for worship and renewal.
1. If Jesus needed time for prayer and renewal, how much more true would this be of us?
2. When our schedules become overloaded God is often the first thing that gets squeezed out of our schedules.
3. If time alone for renewal and fellowship with the Father was essential to Jesus wouldn’t it be a safe assumption that this holds true for us?
4. Studies have confirmed what the Bible has always been saying; our emotional and spiritual well being has a direct impact on our physical well being.
5. If we live a life that leaves no room for rest and the nourishment of our relationships with God and others eventually we will pay the price physically.
6. God does not desire to see busyness in our lives, what He desires more than anything is our availability.
7. Being useful to God and others is a large part of what He intended life to be.
III. Learning to allow margin to develop in our lives is the surest way to be able to get ourselves off the exercise wheel.
A. God never intended for us to be a slave to time, He intended for us to use time wisely for His glory.
1. During the thirteenth century the first clocks were introduced to the western world. In 1865 the first wrist watches began to appear.
2. The clock made man very conscious of time, now man could be early; now man could be late…Man became a slave to a machine that would put some very big demands on him.
3. Today our life is dictated by the clock as we schedule just about every aspect of our lives and we try to squeeze every activity possible into the hours that we have.
4. Do wonder what it was like before the clock? To never be late, to never be early…To never hear an alarm and to never have to hit the snooze.
5. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12—NIV)
6. Although we are not to be a slave to time we are to be conscious of it so that we can make the best use of it and make every day we have on this earth count for the glory of God.
B. Taking the control of our lives back from the clock and schedule will enable us to once and for all break this seemingly never ending cycle of life getting faster and faster.
1. We need to view our time as God’s time. God never intended for progress to control our lives. Our time should be directed by God and used for His purposes.
2. God asking us to walk the second mile, to carry each others’ burdens, to share the Truth at every opportunity and to teach our children when we sit, walk, lie and stand all are given with the assumption that we have margin and are available for His purposes.
3. Availability to God is a spiritual necessity. Without margin, each of us would find it extremely difficult to guarantee God that we will be available whenever He needs us.
4. We need to learn to say no once in a while, so that our schedules are not so jam packed allowing us to begin putting margin back into our lives.
5. Margin grants freedom and permits rest. It allows relationships and service to be nourished. Margin allows our relationship with God to grow and for us to be more available for His purposes.
6. When margin is added to life we will soon discover that we are able to start living life again instead of simply surviving another day.
Long before our culture, which is guilty of keeping track of time right down to the millisecond, frustration with the urgency of time was still being felt. Already in 200 BC, the Roman playwright Plautus’ frustration with time was obvious as he cursed the existence of the sundial. “The gods confound the man who first found out how to distinguish hours. Confound him, too, who in this place set up a sun-dial to cut and hack my days so wretchedly into small portions.”
