lesson from this morning
"Busy Here & There"
I Kings 20:38-43
The passage tells a parable about a man who was charged to watch over a prisoner, at the cost of his own life if the prisoner were to escape (or else he could pay a huge sum of money). The man got busy "here and there" and the prisoner escaped, so the man was responsible to bear the punishment.
It was a sin of omission (see Matthew 21:19 and Luke 16:20-22). The man didn't do anything, and that was exactly his problem. He failed at his task.
He didn't fail through ignorance!
- He knew his duty
- Knowledge is rarely our biggest need, but rather obedience!
- Just do it! Be "doers of the Word and not hearers only"
- Don't be deceived in this
He didn't fail through inability
- It would have been a different story if he was overpowered by ten of the prisoner's friends coming to spring him
- He wasn't attacked or overpowered
- Our failures rarely have to do with lack of ability
- God gives grace and ability for all that He's called us to do
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that there is always a way of escape from temptation and sin; God gives only what I can handle through His grace
He didn't fail through idleness!
- Proverbs 20:13 and Proverbs 21:25 warn about laziness
- This guy was not a lazy man
- He was a hard worker, a "busy" man
THIS GUY FAILED BECAUSE HE WAS BUSY!
He was busy about the wrong things -- had misplaced priorities. This assignment, being a matter of life or death, should have been at the top of the list.
Lest busyness keep us from the things that are truly important, it is essential to take time out from life to reflect and to set our priorities.
Myths about busyness
- Busy equals important
- Only the busy succeed
- Hurrying buys me more time
- "Down time" is wasted time
The key to success is --------------> PURSUING THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
I really desire to live an uncluttered life. There's so much benefit to not be always doing something. Rest is not optional in God's created design, just look at the Sabbath for proof of that. "Good" things often keep us from the best things. What's valuable? A dimension of God slips from our lives when we are busy.
What are some of my God-given tasks?
1. Loving Debbie
2. Evangelizing my grandmother
3. Modeling womanhood for younger ladies
4. __________________________________
What does the world say I can't live without?
1. Work
2. Beauty
3. Wittiness
4. Comfort
What "good" things keep me from God?
1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
3. ________________________________
4. ________________________________
I have been craving going back on salary at work. One reason is that it will allow me to work longer hours (without a 40-hour overtime cap) and to get more work done. Well, work is something that the world says I must have for success. But God doesn't necessarily spell out a 60-hour work week as a condition for holiness. I need to stop coveting going back to salary.
I Kings 20:38-43
The passage tells a parable about a man who was charged to watch over a prisoner, at the cost of his own life if the prisoner were to escape (or else he could pay a huge sum of money). The man got busy "here and there" and the prisoner escaped, so the man was responsible to bear the punishment.
It was a sin of omission (see Matthew 21:19 and Luke 16:20-22). The man didn't do anything, and that was exactly his problem. He failed at his task.
He didn't fail through ignorance!
- He knew his duty
- Knowledge is rarely our biggest need, but rather obedience!
- Just do it! Be "doers of the Word and not hearers only"
- Don't be deceived in this
He didn't fail through inability
- It would have been a different story if he was overpowered by ten of the prisoner's friends coming to spring him
- He wasn't attacked or overpowered
- Our failures rarely have to do with lack of ability
- God gives grace and ability for all that He's called us to do
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that there is always a way of escape from temptation and sin; God gives only what I can handle through His grace
He didn't fail through idleness!
- Proverbs 20:13 and Proverbs 21:25 warn about laziness
- This guy was not a lazy man
- He was a hard worker, a "busy" man
THIS GUY FAILED BECAUSE HE WAS BUSY!
He was busy about the wrong things -- had misplaced priorities. This assignment, being a matter of life or death, should have been at the top of the list.
Lest busyness keep us from the things that are truly important, it is essential to take time out from life to reflect and to set our priorities.
Myths about busyness
- Busy equals important
- Only the busy succeed
- Hurrying buys me more time
- "Down time" is wasted time
The key to success is --------------> PURSUING THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
I really desire to live an uncluttered life. There's so much benefit to not be always doing something. Rest is not optional in God's created design, just look at the Sabbath for proof of that. "Good" things often keep us from the best things. What's valuable? A dimension of God slips from our lives when we are busy.
What are some of my God-given tasks?
1. Loving Debbie
2. Evangelizing my grandmother
3. Modeling womanhood for younger ladies
4. __________________________________
What does the world say I can't live without?
1. Work
2. Beauty
3. Wittiness
4. Comfort
What "good" things keep me from God?
1. ________________________________
2. ________________________________
3. ________________________________
4. ________________________________
I have been craving going back on salary at work. One reason is that it will allow me to work longer hours (without a 40-hour overtime cap) and to get more work done. Well, work is something that the world says I must have for success. But God doesn't necessarily spell out a 60-hour work week as a condition for holiness. I need to stop coveting going back to salary.