I’ve learned a lot in almost thirty years of ministry… but today’s truth may be one of the hardest to apply.
To live the life you’ve always wanted you can’t be hurried. You have to take your time.
No rush. No elevated heartbeat as you race to your next destination. No hypertension... no ticking clock... no must-do agenda. When we become hurried and push ourselves too hard, we lose the ability and capacity to love others. Love takes time... and we can’t give what we don’t have. If we are too busy... we might not be loving those around us at the level they need us to. Plus, when we are in a hurry, we get angry much more quickly. Our fuse shortens. We snap at those we love... hoping that they’ll understand the pressure we’re under. The closer the relationship it seems... the harsher the tone we use. They’ll get over it... they are family.
Right?
I talk to so many who claim that they have to hurry to get everything done. I contend that if we can’t stop during our day to love people... take care of ourselves... and most importantly, talk to and praise God... than we’re too busy.
Hurry sickness is real... and it’s not Biblical. So many claim to follow Christ. If Christ is their leader... than why do they spend their waking hours trying to outrun Him? To outdo Him? To handle things they aren’t supposed to in an attempt to win more favor from Him... so that He’ll bless them with even more opportunity... so they can add more to an already overbooked schedule. You can’t earn favor. He gives that away freely because He loves you unconditionally.
If you are following Christ. Follow Him. He’s not running.
While He was on the earth, Jesus Christ was never in a hurry. He walked slowly enough to feel an old woman tug at his robe... stopped long enough to visit with Mary and Martha... and allowed little children to run up to Him so He could give them a hug. Christ-followers stay behind their leader. They let Him set the pace.
I know what some of you are saying... Pastor, that’s easy for you to say... you don’t live my life! You’re right. You are busy and it’s hard. You’ve got bills to pay, kids to feed, and a boss that gives you the workload of two employees. You’ve got professors who give you massive papers to write at the same time... a leaky roof... and in-laws who insist on calling and telling you how disappointed they are in you. I hear you... But I also know that God has asked us to do two things: Love Him first and love our neighbors as ourselves. In fact, love is what we are supposed to be known for...
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Do you have time to love others? To hear their needs? To empathize with their situations? LIfe isn’t about how much we can pack in before we head out... it’s about how many people we come into contact with and affect with the love of Christ. I’m not saying you can abandon what you need to do to get through things. What I am saying is that you’ve got to spend some time re-prioritizing and choosing the great tasks over just the good ones. Commit today to look for some open space in your schedule and purposefully use it to read God’s Word and love others. Make a list of the most important people in your life... do they know you love them? When was the last time they got some uninterrupted quality time with you? Maybe it’s been too long. Maybe you’ve come down with a case of hurry sickness. We want to partner together with you to help you discover and embrace the cure...
“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” Matthew 11:28
Weary?
Have heavy burdens?
Stressed out?
Hurried?
Come to Christ. He will give you the rest you seek.
