What Jesus Says to Busy People

In a simple and kind word to a woman busy doing the right things in life, Jesus teaches us that the most important issue is our relationship with God.  To be his follower, to learn from him and to live on his mission is the central issue of our lives and we must be called away from the distracting buzz of busyness in our lives.

Rather than being distracted from the main thing we need to focus on keeping Jesus and his Kingdom central.  This requires that we learn to rest from our labors, learn to spend time with Jesus and find peace amidst the chaos of life through trust and relationship with God.

What we see and hear from Jesus

Slowing down, brings clarity and priority about what LIFE MEANS

It is remarkable how much of our life is lived without reflection on its meaning. It is not surprising that so many people are busy but bored! They have many things to do and are always running to get them done, but beneath the hectic activity they often wonder if anything is truly happening. A life that is not reflected upon eventually loses its meaning and becomes boring.

-- Henri Nouwen, Here and Now, p 97

Slowing down and learning from Jesus brings deeper relationship with God

Sabbath – we need to rest, worship and realign life to God...

In the Old Testament the Sabbath was commanded by God to be observed by his people on a certain day. In fact, one of the 10 commandments – is “Remember the Sabbath and Keep it Holy”

In the New Testament we see that the Sabbath is not simply about the day but where we find our rest.  Observing a day of religious services and rest from work is good but it is not to be observed apart from the one who is LORD of the SABBATH.  Jesus teaches us that the Sabbath is made for MAN and is a gift from God. 

Though it is clear the day of rest and worship is not mandated by the New Testament – Christians have gathered from the first century onward, when possible…on what we call “The Lord’s Day” – Sunday.

The early Jewish followers of Jesus made a switch from Sabbath Keeping on Saturday to worshiping on the Lord’s Day for one reason – it is the day Jesus rose from death for our salvation.

So we think there is a Sabbath principle, a rhythm of rest/work that God intends for us as followers of Jesus, but our rest is directly found IN JESUS – at his feet.

Practical Rest and Devotion with Jesus – Daily, Weekly, Seasonally

1. Time each day to pause, pray, meditate, read Scripture
2. Time each week - we gather weekly for this reason...on The Lord’s Day.
3. Time Seasonally – Planned time to slow down

Resisting Idolatry – We need to rest and realize that God is in control and we are not.  

Resting and learning at his feet – gives us peace in a world of chaos where there is plenty to do…

The quest for a contemplative life can actually be self-absorbed, focused on my quiet and me. If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet. Because we are less hectic on the inside, we have a greater capacity to love . . . and thus to be busy, which in turn drives us even more into a life of prayer. By spending time with our Father in prayer, we integrate our lives with his, with what he is doing in us. Our lives become more coherent. They feel calmer, more ordered, even in the midst of confusion and pressure.

- A Praying Life by Paul Miller

Matthew 11:27–30 (ESV) ²⁷ All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. ²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Stress is Relieved by GREATER TRUST and RELATIONSHIP with the one who holds all of life in his hands. Busyness can make us forget that God is with us, he is at the Crib…Martha forget what was right before her eyes.  We remind one another today that God is with us, loves us, forgives us and changes us in Jesus Christ.

Your LIFE – running around trying to clean up, make everything right and stay in complete control? OR sitting at Jesus feet, trusting him by faith and knowing that he has your back no matter what happens.  I am his child so my life is ultimately and finally secure in him.

Community Meditation

• How would you rate you and/or your families pace of life right now? Busy? Relaxed? Barely holding on?
• Can you tend to find your identity by how much stuff you have going on?
• Answer the following series of related questions as honest as you can: What distracts you? What makes you anxious? What are you worried about? What are your deepest fears? What stresses you out? How are these issues related to the idea that we can control everything in life?
• How can your life get filled up with “good things” where your relationship with God suffers?
• How do you make time to pause and reflect with God each day? Each week? Seasonally? How do you need to repent and ask God to help you change?
• How can we find rest and have our worries relieved by spending time at Jesus’ feet? How does worship declare and increase your trust in God?
• Read about Jesus’ interactions with two powerful men in - Luke 23:6-12; John 18:28-40