Tag Archive - contentment

Busy-ness

March 11, 2010 in The Blog with 2 Comments

Here is a great quote from John Piper:

“One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.”
And when I say quote, what I mean is tweet. Kind of ironic, eh? But a swift kick in the butt at the same time. Maybe Twitter or Facebook don’t consume that much of your time.  But everyone has something that sucks up their time.


“We’re too busy” is something I hear all the time lately.  I believe it less and less.

I think “busy” is a state of mind. This perspective has come slowly as I age. This is ironic in a way, because I have far more to do as I get older. Marriage means you have to do your stuff, plus her stuff, plus together stuff. Kids are very demanding of your time – and it gets worse before it gets better! You think feedings and nap times cramp your style? Wait until you have to take them to practices, school events, social activities, etc.! I really like to read – where do you slate that in?

We are involved in more activities at church, both participating and leading, than ever before. I’m now blogging and writing a lot lately. We have people over quite often. I’m self-employed, and that is feast or famine – but the demands of the work schedule can overrule many other best intentions.

But do I feel busy?  Sure, I have lots to do.  And I don’t have a lot of free (unallocated) time.  But I don’t see that as busy.  I see that as the result of my choices.  I make time for all the things above.  I make time for my wife and kids.  I make time to read and to study.  I make time for anything that is important to me.  That doesn’t mean I’m busy.  That means I’m engaged in life.

No one is busier than another person.  Everyone has the same number of minutes in a week.  It’s how we choose to spend them.  Are you choosing your minute-fillers, or do you let others impose them on you?  I think that might be what some people call “busy”.  Maybe they really mean that they feel powerless.  But you’re not! You have the same number of minutes as everyone else.  They are votes that you can cast in the grand scheme of life.  You vote with your time. Where you put your time shows what you value.  It’s that simple.

If you value community, or service, or family, or recreation, or prayer, or solitude, or whatever – you will find time for it.  What is your purpose?  Do you have one besides entertaining yourself?  If you think you do, look at your schedule.  That will tell you whether you are being honest when you say that you’re “busy”.

You cannot do all things

February 10, 2010 in Misrepresenting the Bible, The Blog with 5 Comments

This phrase is up there among the most misquoted passages in scripture. It’s not a long one, so I’ll include the whole thing here:

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13

Almost every occasion I have heard this scripture invoked, it has been vs 13 all by itself. And most people like to quote a combo of KVJ and NIV and say “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” – probably because of the song based on the verse. The only trouble is – as stated, it is simply not true. You have to read scripture in context.

Paul is saying that his life has been very hard. He is also recalling the better times. And he is reminding himself that no matter how bad or good things are, he can make it through with God’s help.

This passage is about contentment, not victory.
It speaks about living life as it comes, not acquiring supernatural powers.
It is not invoking, it is confessing.
It is about endurance, not faith.
It is not a proclamation, it is an affirmation.
It is not speaking of spiritual warfare, but commitment.

Certainly there are verses about all these other topics – but this verse is not one of them.

Life is going to suck sometimes. Jesus even said so! But with his strength, we can carry on. We would do well to use this passage to remind ourselves of that – not to expect some miraculous change.

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