The Busyness of Life

LUKE 2:1-7

Today, we will look briefly at the man who missed Christmas - the Inn Keeper.

There is a big difference between Business of Life and Busyness of Life.

We need to understand that there is a difference between:
* The business of Life - work, raising kids, providing food to eat.
* The busyness of Life - running our children to every sports event, work extra to keep up with the Jones, always going somewhere.

The Innkeeper never realized that it was God knocking on his door.

If he only knew how close he came to God.  He was so close, yet so far away.

STATISTICS:
In data collected from over 20,000 Christians aged15 to 88 across 139 countries, the Obstacles to Growth Survey found that on average, more than four in 10 Christians around the world say they often or always rush from task to task. Christians worldwide are simply too busy for God.

Busy-ness is a state of mind.
Busy-ness isnt having lots to do.

Busy-ness is being overwhelmed by things, and not acknowledging the source of our life, which is in God the Holy Trinity.

We can be doing much, but if we are operating out of the gifts and passions that God has planted in us, then we are still energised by what we do.

Jesus, the eternal Son in human form, knew this.
* Jesus had much to do all the time, people were always upon him,
* He wasnt overwhelmed by things, because he acknowledged the source of his life and He took time out with God.

Giving out all the time causes exhaustion, it brings that busy mindset.

* We know how to value those who do things all the time.
* But we forget that God doesnt value us for what we do.
* God values us for who we are.
* God values us for being Gods children.
* Our loving Father wants us to slow down and make room for him.

Christians are assimilating to a culture of busyness, hurry and overload, which leads to (1) God becoming more marginalised in Christians’ lives, which leads to (2) a deteriorating relationship with God, which leads to (3) Christians becoming even more vulnerable to adopting secular assumptions about how to live, which leads to (4) more conformity to a culture of busyness, hurry and overload.  And then the cycle begins again.