Some time ago, a newspaper in Tacoma, Washington, carried the story of Tattoo, the basset hound. Tattoo didn’t intend to go for an evening run, but when his owner shut his leash in the car door and took off for a drive, Tattoo had no choice. A motorcycle officer named Terry Filbert noticed a passing vehicle with something that appeared to be dragging behind it. As he passed the vehicle, he saw Tattoo. Officer Filbert finally chased the car to a stop, and Tattoo was rescued -- but not before the dog reached a speed of twenty to twenty-five miles per hour and rolled over several time. Now, for many of you, your life feels just like that. The pace of your life is fast and relentless. Sometimes you’re on your feet running as fast as you can go. More often than not you feel like you’re being dragged around by the neck. There’s really only one difference between you and Tattoo. You chose your predicament, but he did not.
As we continue our series, “How to Treat Others”, I want us to talk about, “How to treat those who are busy.” And I have a feeling it will really be a sermon about how to treat yourself.
I. Busyness: It’s Contagious.
*. Everyone is busy! I guess it’s a sign of the times. Too many people, places and things are grabbing for our attention, our involvement our support.. This board, this committee, this project, this meeting, this event, this appointment. (We value Multitasking!)
*. Lee Iacocca was a busy man when he was running the Chrysler Corporation. Even so, he knew the value of taking time off. He makes this comment in his autobiography: "I’m constantly amazed by the number of people who can’t seem to control their own schedules. Over the years, I’ve had many executives come to me and say with pride: "Boy, last year I worked so hard that I didn’t take any vacation." And I always say, "That’s nothing to be proud of! You mean to tell me that you can take responsibility for an $80 million project and you can’t plan two weeks out of the year to go off with your family and have some fun? You can’t plan any time to take care of yourself?
*. Sometimes the Church even adds to life’s hecticness. “Here a program, there a program, everywhere a program, program.” Well, our “Word from the Lord” today comes from Luke 10 where Jesus rebukes the very busy Martha.
*. Luke 10:38-42 says, “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me.” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chose what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
II. Busyness: It’s Cancerous. Why is busyness so bad? Someone said, “The problem with living life in the fast lane is that you get to the toll booth quicker!”
1. Busyness prohibits an balanced life. It is obvious that Martha neglected some very important priorities. LCC has four Core Values that we think are of utmost importance. The Lordship of Christ, The Worship of God, the Fellowship of the Church and the Discipleship of ourselves and others for Jesus. We expect all our members to be actively involved in all four. In this story, Martha is very much involved in Fellowship and the Service of others (What a privilege to have the Lord come to your home), but obviously she neglected the Lordship of Christ, the Worship of God and the Discipleship of herself.
2. Busyness destroys Relationships. Busyness keeps us distracted from the important things in life.
A. Martha was distracted from her relationship with the Lord. When extreme busyness hits, one of the first things to go is my personal time with the Lord. Often my Bible reading stops. That was the first thing to go with Martha. C.S. Lewis wrote, “The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. But the first job each morning should consists of shoving it all back, in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.”
B. Martha was distracted from her relationship with Mary. Martha’s hectic mind-set caused her to be very negative toward her sister. (Busyness is the greatest enemy to any relationship). How many friendships have gone by the wayside because of your busy schedule? My busy schedule?
3. Busyness distorts our vision. Martha accused her sister Mary of being lazy, neglectful and totally missed the fact that Mary was doing what actually pleased the Lord. Busyness often comes with blinders that only allows us to see our own agenda and our own desires.
4. Busyness robs us of personal joy. Martha wasn’t enjoying life– she was distracted, negative, complaining.
5. Busyness hinders our prayer life. Can you believe Martha’s prayer..... “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself. Tell her to help me!” So demanding.... She treated the Lord much like a Vending Machine..... Have your prayers ever seemed like a vending machine prayers. “I want this. I want that!” In this day and age It is a huge temptation to approach God from the throne of race and temptation, rather than meeting Him at the throne of grace.
** B.U.S.Y.– no wonder someone said that B.U.S.Y. stands for, “Being Under Satan’s Yoke!”
III. Busyness: It’s Curable.
1. Set the Example. Jesus had tons to do. He had a heavy schedule– yet he took time to stop build relationships. He set the example. On one occasion, while Abraham Lincoln was a poor young lawyer in Springfield, he was going to his office one morning when he saw a little girl crying at the door on of the houses. Lincoln stopped to see what was the matter. She sobbed out her story. She was going to visit a little friend of hers in another town. It was to be her first ride on the train, and the express man had not come for the trunk. Mr. Lincoln lifted the trunk onto his shoulders and started off, calling to the little girl to “come along.” They just caught the train. It’s no wonder the little girl never forgot him! He set the example.
2. Care enough to Confront. If you see someone caught busyness, help them. Say something. Jesus’ words, “Martha, Martha!” was actually from a heart of compassion. He pointedly said, “You are worried and upset about many things”. Sometime the best thing we can do is acknowledge reality.
3. Talk about Priorities. Jesus said, “Only one thing is needed.” Too often our conversations are so meaningless. They are so superficial! We need to talk more about life’s priorities, things that really matter, and encourage one another to be faithful and righteous.
4. Look for those who exhibit balance. Jesus commended Mary for choosing what was better. We need examples to imitate.
5. Make time to be at the Feet of Jesus. In this text, Jesus said, “Only one thing is needed!” That one thing is time with Jesus. A relationship with Jesus. That is the thing that matters most. Let me ask, “When was the last time you sat at the feet of Jesus? When was the last time you just sat still, in quiet and listened to the Word of the Lord (your Bible) for the purpose of working on you?
I know of a guy who “sits at the feet of Jesus” every day. Every morning, he physically kneels on the floor in front of a chair in his living room and he reads his Bible pretending that Jesus is sitting in the chair and He is kneeling at his feet.
Today, if you know you are too busy. Take this sermon personally and find time with the Lord.
