“For we dare not…compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” - from 2 Corinthians 10:12.
If we’re talking about God’s calling here, this is being addressed to those who truly love Jesus (Romans 8:28), new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and born again through the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8).
And for these who are born again, 19th century saint George Mueller offers these guidelines to those following the Lord; that the Word of God (King James Bible) is our only standard, and the Holy Spirit our only teacher;
“16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” -2 Timothy 3:16,17.
“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” -1 John 2:27.
When we choose Jesus, we are putting Him first above all other relationships; no matter the esteem they may have in the eyes of others. The scripture says,
“ Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.” -I Corinthians 7:23,24.
Jesus told us that our walk with Him will at times bring conflicts with family (Matthew 10:36), and with the unsaved world at large (John 15:18,19), or even pressure from other professing Christians who find fault with our calling; they are forgetting that the body of Christ has MANY members, with different functions and strengths.
“4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all…14 For the body is not one member, but many.” -1 Corinthians 12:4-6,14.
These conflicts with other professing believers can be the roughest; they tend to assume all Christians will be relatively the same in terms of ministry, but are week in scripture, having not received the FULL COUNSEL from their teachers;
“26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” -Acts 20:27.
The Bible says that if we seek to please men, we become their servants, and not the Lord’s (Galatians 1:10); let us therefore find rest, and justification in the finished work of Christ, our Savior (Romans 8:33,34).
But the practices of the world have greatly infected the church, and today society generally promotes and admires busy lifestyles; many who profess to know Christ, have also followed suit; and actually believe they’re pleasing God in this way.
In John chapter 6, the people Jesus ministered to asked Him about how to do the works of God, and this passage is from that encounter; “27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” -John 6:27-29.
The Bible says that all have sinned (Romans 3:23), and that within our flesh is NO good thing (Romans 7:18); there’s literally nothing we can do to earn God’s favor due to our inherent sinful nature; salvation comes through God’s mercy (Romans 9:16), and grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-10). This is why Jesus diminished physical labor in this teaching, and instructed them to merely believe in His work; busy lives may appear successful according to worldly values, but for Christians it’s a sign of falling back into works-based religion.
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” -John 7:24.
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” -Galatians 2:16.
With Jesus as our Lord & Savior, nothing can be as vital or challenging as knowing God; yet having more prayer & Bible Study is rarely a part of keeping-busy lifestyles. Jesus said we must live by every Word of God (Matthew 4:4), and that the words He’s spoken will judge us (John 12:48), and if we love Him we’ll keep His commandments (1 John 5:3); these are all crucial for our eternal well-being, but many are so busy trying to please Him, that they never learn what He really wants.
Yes! There are legitimate circumstances that may keep life busy, but why are we so prone to squeeze more into a day, rather than making time saving cuts?
Jesus knows the stresses we have, and downplayed overworking to make ends meet; He kept it simple for us, promising that if we just put God first in our lives, He will provide ALL we really need.
“No man can serve two masters…Ye cannot serve God and mammon…Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?…But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” -from Matthew 6:24-33.
Mary & Martha exemplified this principle in Luke 10:38-42, where Martha became stressed and anxious over serving their guests, while Mary merely sat at Jesus’ feet to learn from Him (v.39), and she was commended; our Lord declared that Mary had chosen the one needful thing she would not lose; “40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be ta.ken away from her.” -from Luke 10:38-42.
Brethren, we need to focus on doing God’s will, and that won’t always be visible by the working standards of others; and we cannot even discern His will when we’re too busy to seek Him for what that is. Please take the time to do that, which even the Apostles have shown us by example;
“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” -Acts 6:1-4. Bold type added for emphasis.
P.S: All good things do come from the Lord (James 1:17), so it’s important not to run ahead of His leading. Criticisms can come when His calling takes us away from the larger body of Christ into something more isolated. The following scriptures are a few examples of this; 2 Chronicles 35:15, Mark 9:38-40, 13:34.
I also have a short YouTube video on this subject titled Busy Enough for God?
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