Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Busyness”
Our Bible verse for today: “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.” 1 Samuel 2:26 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Stay focused on God.
As we continue thinking about the problem of busyness, we have moved away from thinking about the causes of our busyness and the damage excessive busyness causes, and we have begun considering how to handle our busyness.
I believe an important part of the answer can be found in the contrasting examples of two ancient leaders of Israel. Both of their names begin with “S”. They both appear in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel, and both of them led busy lives. They are Samuel and Saul.
The example of Samuel is positive and inspiring. From his earliest days his unwavering devotion to God was the foundation upon which his life was built. Also, it was always the starting place for Samuel- God came first, obedience to His commands was not optional, and everything else in his life grew out of that. From there he went about his daily duties of leading the people in worship, and providing wise counsel and good judgment in the administration of the affairs of the nation, and everything else that went along with being a busy leader. But it all started with God, and Samuel never lost sight of that.
Saul was different. His example is mostly negative and it’s one we need to be sure we don’t follow. Saul began well, he was humble and obedient. But he quickly drifted from his spiritual roots, began depending on his own wisdom, engaged in lots of behaviors that went against God’s clear commands, rationalized his behavior, and came to a sad and disgraceful end. You can read his sorry story in the book of 1 Samuel.
Samuel and Saul were both busy men with important duties. The primary difference between them was that Samuel remained focused on God first and foremost, and Saul did not. In his busyness he lost sight of what was most important, and his life quickly became very messy.
The lesson here for us is that regardless of how busy we are, first and foremost we have to stay true to God. He is our firm foundation and our anchor. He is the one who will keep our head screwed on straight and our thinking clear.
Unfortunately, for many people, rather than holding tightly to the practice of their faith, as the busyness of life increases they begin to make excuses for not praying, or reading the Bible, or attending the regular gatherings of their church family. After all, they’re just so busy!
Wrong! Worst possible thing you could do. God isn’t your problem He’s your answer. If you’re too busy for praying and Bible study and church attendance then my friend you are entirely too busy! And, you are now officially drifting. You are following the path of Saul rather than that of Samuel.
As you attempt to get control of your busyness I encourage you to remember that the faithful and obedient practice of your faith needs to be the foundation of your life, the starting place for every other activity in your life, and it has to be non-negotiable. Everything else is of lesser importance.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 