Issue 924 – Sleepy Bees – December 1, 2022
We are all familiar with the expression busy as a bee. It’s an old expression that dates back to Geoffrey Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales (The Squire’s Tale), 1386-1400.
We can relate because we have all seen bees at work. They seem to go from flower to flower and back to the hive nonstop all day long. Yet, if you are watchful, you can often find bees asleep in flowers. On a trip to a botanical garden this summer, I was able to catch several bees sleeping.
They are incredibly busy during their short life span, but even bees have limits.
When I think of busy bees, a familiar text comes to mind.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
While some people constantly act like Martha, we all have a little tendency towards Martha-ness (if that wasn’t a word before, it is now).
We can get so busy “working” for the Lord that we lose sight of what is really important. We fail to spend time with Him.
I can fall prey to this problem very easily. In my desire to please the Lord, I frequently attempt to do things under my own power rather than trust in Him. It never turns out well.
Martha-ness can stem from an overdeveloped sense of responsibility, a desire to earn God’s blessing or many other reasons. Wherever it comes from, it is unhealthy.
Worse yet, like Martha, we can become bitter complainers about what other people aren’t doing. We can forget that not everyone in the body is called to the same task at the same time or to do it in the same way.
In Romans, we read a pointed question about judging others.
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. Romans 14:4
That text hurts. I confess that far too often, I have been guilty of judging and complaining about God’s servants.
When I find myself thinking along those lines, I must stop and repent. It isn’t only unproductive; it is sin.
There can be seasons of uber-busyness, but if that is your normal state, there is a problem.
Are you as busy as the metaphorical bee? Perhaps you should consider examining what you are doing and ask the Lord if it is what He calls you to.
Take some time today to set aside the things that consume your time and be intentional about sitting at the Lord’s feet in prayer and His Word.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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