Busy as a Bee

One of the greatest lies I have believed during my Christian life was this:

"When things slow down, I'll have more time for God's mission."

The problem is that things never slow down.

For years, I tried to work the Kingdom of God around my life instead of working my life around the Kingdom of God. I loved Jesus and wanted to make disciples, but disciple-making often became something I tried to squeeze into the margins of an already crowded schedule.

I was busy with work, projects, hobbies, television, the beach, and countless other activities. None of those things were necessarily sinful. The problem was that I was allowing good things to crowd out the best thing.

When Jesus gave His followers their mission, He didn't say, "If you have some extra time, make disciples."

He said:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations..." (Matthew 28:19, ESV)

And before ascending into heaven, He said:

"You will be my witnesses..." (Acts 1:8, ESV)

These were not suggestions. They were the marching orders of the King.

The challenge for many believers is not a lack of desire but a lack of margin. We have packed our lives so full that there is little room left for intentional investment in people. We say the Kingdom is our priority, yet it often receives whatever time remains after everything else is finished.

The early disciples lived differently. They organized their lives around the mission of Jesus. Their schedules, relationships, and resources were surrendered to the advancement of God's Kingdom.

That raises an important question:

What needs to be removed from my life so I can say yes to the mission Jesus has already given me?

There is another issue we must confront.

If we view disciple-making primarily as work, there may be something wrong with our perspective.

Yes, disciple-making requires effort, but it should also be one of the greatest joys of the Christian life. We have the privilege of opening God's Word with others, praying with them, encouraging them, and watching God transform their lives. We get to help people grow in their relationship with Christ.

What could be more meaningful than that?

Some of the most fulfilling moments of my life have not come from entertainment, hobbies, or vacations. They have come from investing in people and watching God work in their hearts.

Disciple-making is not a distraction from life. It is part of the life Jesus called us to live.

Bees are constantly moving. They are always busy. But activity alone is not the measure of a faithful life.

Jesus never called us to be busy.

He called us to be fruitful.

If we truly want to honor our King, we must stop trying to fit His mission into our lives and instead build our lives around His mission.

Hear and Obey Challenge

Look at your calendar this week. What is one activity, commitment, or distraction you can remove to create more space for making disciples and being a witness for Christ?