No Room for God

We live in an age where busyness is a mark of industry and the hallmark of ethics. We brag about it. We compete over it. We sometimes look like we live for it. And then we complain about it. But busyness dominates our lives far more than it should and far more than we often will admit. We are busy working, sometimes in jobs that are not a lot of fun, but we take overtime for the additional money. We get our children busy in as many activities as we possibly can so they can prepare for…a life of busyness. We are busy on our phones, busy watching media, and busy being busy. However, what we rarely see in all of this is anyone being busy for the Lord.

We have reached the point where Christians seemingly treat four hours per week to worship God and study His Word as an onerous load. Everything we do as the Lord’s people, it would appear, must fit into that four hour window. Why? We are busy. Therefore, there is no time left to attend gospel meetings, no time left for additional study, no time left to serve those in need, no time left to reach out to the lost, and no time left to think about how poorly we are using our time. Outside of this minimal four-hour (maybe) commitment, we allow our minds to dwell on worldly things. Indeed, one might even question whether we fully leave those worldly things behind for those four hours. And so, out of one hundred sixty-eight hours per week, our four, we think, is sufficient. That is a whopping percentage just over 2% of our time. Now, it must be admitted that this includes the time spent eating and sleeping, activities necessary for our physical well-being. But what then does that say about how much time we spend on our spiritual well-being?

David wrote a powerful indictment of such a condition when he penned, “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts” (Psa. 10:4). We do not like the designation of “wicked” very much. But if worldliness and pride keep us from turning our attention to God, what description would be better? If he had said “the half-hearted” or “the partially committed” or “the spiritually disinterested” would that have been better? However, the context is even more telling. David further describes such a one in verse six: “He has said in his heart, ‘I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity’” (Psa. 10:6). People do not seek God because they think everything will be all right without him. Then, when they run into trouble, they show up seeking help. All of the sudden, at least in the moment, they have time for God. If only this led to lasting commitment!

My friends, this is no way to live life! God has given us everything good (Jas. 1:17), including His own Son (Jn. 3:16). He deserves far more than four hours a week. Indeed, He expects more. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). Please make room for God in your life, for He sent Jesus to make room for you in heaven (Jn. 14:1-6).