Too Busy to Do God’s Work
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“He has told you, O people, what is good And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
In our desire to live for God, we sometimes spend our efforts in the wrong places. Jesus told the following story to show where our priorities ought to be.
A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and left him lying beside the road, half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, when he saw the man, took pity on him and looked after his needs
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Were the priest and the Levite hard-hearted men? Not necessarily. They were busy people doing God’s work in the temple. If the injured man happened to die while they were handling him, they would be considered unclean for seven days. According to their law, they would not be able to mix with people until they were ceremonially cleansed on the seventh day (Numbers 19:16-21).
The priest and the Levite had important religious duties to perform. They simply couldn’t afford to be out of commission for a whole week.
How often do we hurry past a person in need because we have important work to do? We rush past the homeless person. We can’t stop to listen to someone whose heart is breaking. We can’t find time to visit the lonely shut-in.
Jesus, in telling the story of the good Samaritan, taught that people come before programs. He demonstrated this principle in His own ministry. He was never too busy to stop what he was doing to reach out to someone in need.
In our effort to “work for God,” let us always put persons ahead of programs. That is God’s way. He wants to show His love in a tangible way–through us.
Prayer: Dear God, I confess I’m guilty. Often I think my plans are more important than Your plans. Forgive me. Help me to be more in tune with Your heart, to hear the cry of someone in need, and to take time to help as Jesus did.
Question: What reminders can we hold on to during the day, so that we don’t get too busy to do God’s work?
About the Author: Helen Grace Lescheid
what a great article..keep it up
A reminder throughout the day is simply being in tuned to Jesus’ compassion for other people. A lot of times we put ourselves ahead of others, true, that is within our nature, nevertheless, other people should come first. I know that in the past when I’ve missed opportunities to help people out, the Holy Spirit tugs at my heart – I could have really made a difference in that person’s life; they may have turned there heart toward God, if they hadn’t already. You never know. Sometimes we may not have the words to say, God may just speak for you. They may also be your crutch someday, and just your simple contact long ago may one day heal your heart as well.