~ Are You Busy Enough for God to Use? ~
Have you ever wondered why God seldom goes to a lazy or idle person when He wants someone to perform a great or noble act of service? When He has such special work, the Lord chooses someone who is already very busy faithfully executing their prescribed task.
Anonymous once wrote, “Those who tread the path of labor, follow where Christ’s feet have trod; they who work without complaining, do the holy will of God.” The Word of God says, “The soul of the diligent shall be made fat” (Proverbs 13:4). Are you a busy person?
One of my favorite poems, The Busy Man, was also written by our mutual friend Anonymous.
“The man of leisure never has a moment he can spare;
He’s always putting off until his friends are in despair.
But he whose every waking hour is crowded full of work,
Forgets the art of wasting time—he cannot stop to shirk.
So when you want a favor done and want it right away,
Go the man who works with zeal lo, many hours a day.
He’ll find a moment sure somewhere that has no other use,
And help you while the idle man is framing an excuse.”
Have you found this poem to be true in your life experiences?
God knows this truth. Consider the following examples of individuals God used:
Moses was busy with his flock at Horeb – Exodus 3:1-10
Gideon was threshing wheat at the winepress – Judges 6:11-14
Old Testament Saul was searching for his father’s lost donkeys – 1 Samuel 9:1-16
David was caring for his father’s sheep – 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Elisha was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen – 1 Kings 19:15-21
Nehemiah was bearing the king’s wine cup – Nehemiah 1:1-3, 11
Amos was busy following the flock – Amos 7:14-15
Peter and Andrew were busy with their fishing business – Matthew 4:18-20
Likewise, James and John were mending their fishing nets – Matthew 4:21-22
Matthew was busy collecting taxes – Matthew 9:9
New Testament Saul was actively persecuting the friends of Jesus – Acts 9:1-9
Are you busy enough for God to use? God calls individuals when they are busy—Satan does so when they are idle! Our prolific author friend, Anonymous, also once said, “You cannot ‘kill time’ without affecting eternity!”
What does your calendar look like this week?
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
