Am I busy or am I fruitful? It’s helpful to ask yourself this question every once in a while. Life can get legitimately busy and then there are times when we make ourselves busy. We are all aware of the natural importance of rest and prioritization. If we translate these natural ideologies into the spiritual things, we will realize that they are similar.
Sometimes as children of God we can get busy doing things that we feel are the “work of the Lord.” There is nothing wrong with wanting to work in the church and do things that advance the Kingdom; scripture encourages us to do so.
However, there is a thin line between religion and relationship. This makes it difficult for us to contrast what looks pleasing to God from what is actually pleasing to Him.
Let’s consider the relationship between a husband and wife: One spouse can be busy doing all the things that tradition says should please the other. Oftentimes this hinders them from doing what will actually please their spouse. For example, traditionally women are taught that it’s important to keep a clean home and cook for their family. However, a wife could be in the kitchen “slaving over a hot stove” when her husband would prefer her to be in the bedroom, working on another type of heat. In this example, the wife is giving her husband what she thinks he wants, instead of asking him what he actually wants. She is busy when she could be fruitful. If she had asked him what he wanted, she could be having a more relaxing evening.
This is what we do sometimes in our relationship with the Lord.
We offer Him all the things that tradition has taught us that He wants. But if we spend time and build our relationship, then we will learn that He just wants from us.
If we ask Him, we may be surprised to learn that all He wants is for us to rest in His promises, all He wants is to hear us sing to Him, all He wants is for us to draw closer and closer.
Is working important? Absolutely. But without times of intimacy we will not be sure whether we are doing busy work or fruitful work. Through intimacy His voice becomes clearer, more of His heart is revealed to us and our relationship with Him grows stronger.
Jesus said…
“I am a true sprouting vine, and the farmer who tends the vine is my Father. He cares for the branches connected to me by lifting and propping up the fruitless branches and pruning every fruitful branch to yield a greater harvest. The words I have spoken over you have already cleansed you. So you must remain in life-union with me, for I remain in life-union with you. For as a branch severed from the vine will not bear fruit, so your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless.”
Take time out daily and pray “Lord what do you want from me today? I am yours and You are mine.”