The saying goes that the early bird gets the worm, meaning that if you get up and going before others, you will be the one to get rewarded for your efforts. However, many would say that there is some merit in embracing a slower pace, letting things happen when they may and not rushing to accomplish tasks in a timely manner.
As a Christian, it can be hard to determine what the balance is between busyness and laziness. We don’t want to be too busy, but also not too lazy. Drifting too much on either side could not only tamper with aspects of your life, but also with your Christian witness to others.
With that in mind, what steps can we take to walk the fine line between busyness and laziness in the Christian life?
As always, the best source for advice on any topic – including busyness and laziness – is the Bible. We will use the story of sisters Martha and Mary to show how a balance between busyness and laziness creates the perspective of being present.
Busyness and Laziness
Before we venture into the story of Martha and Mary, let’s first understand what the terms busyness and laziness mean. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, busyness is defined as being involved in or having several activities you are doing. On the contrary, laziness is being “disinclined to activity or exertion: not energetic or vigorous.”
So, to clarify, busyness and laziness are polar opposites of one another. The extremes of each behavior can lead to the point of overwhelming yourself (busyness) or not getting anything done and being behind on deadlines (laziness). To best illustrate these characteristics of busyness and laziness, let’s take a look at the story of Martha and Mary, sisters hosting Jesus at their home.
Martha and Mary
In this story (Luke 10:38-42), Martha invites Jesus to visit their home. Martha, ever the hostess, keeps herself busy by running around to keep the house clean and food plentiful for Jesus and her guests. Mary, on the other hand, finds herself seated at the feet of Jesus, soaking up all the knowledge He is giving.
When Martha notices Mary’s “laziness,” she approaches Jesus and asks Him why He hasn’t reprimanded Mary for not helping. Jesus’s response is classic: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
There is a lot to unpack here regarding busyness and laziness, as well as why Jesus felt Martha needed to be corrected, but not Mary. There are also some myths behind busyness and laziness in the Christian faith that need to be dispelled as well.
Busyness Doesn’t Equal Godliness
Despite what some Christians might believe, busyness doesn’t mean you are godlier than others or are closer to God with a busy schedule. We have all probably known someone (or a few people) at church who are heavily active, from leading Bible studies to attending church every time the doors are open.
I preface here that there is nothing wrong with being active in church, but some people see their efforts at being active as more pleasing to God, hoping they will bring about greater blessings from Him. However, as Isaiah 64:6 says, “all our righteousness are like filthy rags,” meaning that even though we think we are accomplishing tasks for God, the glory we are pursuing from these tasks is really for ourselves.
Laziness Prevents You from Being an Active Participant
On the opposite end, though laziness is nice at times, it prevents you from being an active participant in God’s plan for your life. Laziness can carry the mindset that God will give you the blessings, lessons, and promptings in your life, so you just have to sit back and receive it all.
Yet that is not what having faith in God is. God wants you to flex your faith muscles, stepping out in faith when the outcome seems uncertain and going to God regularly in prayer for everything in your life, big or small.
When you let laziness take over your thoughts and efforts, you convey to God a sense of entitlement, when God owes us nothing. It is by His grace and love for us that we get any blessings, and being active in our faith (witnessing to others, praying, reading the Bible, fellowshipping with others) allows us to draw closer to Him and prepare for more blessings to come.
Busyness Is Not a Competition
The mindset at times toward busyness can be a comparison trap; we want to stay busier for the Lord than others at church. However, looking at what others do and judging what they do for God compared to what you do turns busyness into a competition.
In the story of Martha and Mary, Martha could also be accused of using her pursuits to serve as a way of showing off. She may have wanted her guests, and especially Jesus, to leave her home thinking what an amazing hostess she was and how her efforts were glorifying God, when it might have been more glorifying for her.
Staying busy for the Lord is to allow yourself the opportunity to hear and be led by the Lord to do things for Him, not for you to get so focused on other things that you miss chances He has given you to serve Him and others.
Walk the Line of Busyness and Laziness Like Mary
So, if we don’t want to be like Martha, getting chastised by Jesus for being more consumed with busyness than by what He is doing and saying, how should we follow Mary’s lead?
Mary walked the line of busyness and laziness by being present with Jesus. She was busy in listening and taking mental notes of what Jesus was sharing with all, while she was staying at rest by not letting the obligations of her sister lead her away from Jesus’s message.
Mary teaches us that if you have the chance to get guidance from the Lord, then you must stop everything to give your full attention to Him. Then, you can resume what you were doing before, but with a different perspective on the tasks ahead. Are they tasks that God has called you to do, or are they tasks that are taking you away from God’s true mission/calling for you?
When we feel life’s busyness is getting the most of our attention from the Lord, we need to take a moment of rest (what some might see as laziness) and reflect on what God might be telling us or showing us.
How do we walk the line between busyness and laziness as Christians? By being active in our faith, taking moments with the Lord throughout our day, and realizing what we do is to glorify God and not ourselves. Because if we put Jesus first, we will always be present in His presence.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/jesadaphorn
Blair Parke is a freelance writer for BibleStudyTools.com and freelance book editor who wrote her first book, "Empty Hands Made Full," in 2021 about her journey through infertility with her husband. She previously worked for eight years with Xulon Press as an editor. A graduate of Stetson University with a bachelor's in communications, Blair previously worked as a writer/editor for several local magazines in the Central Florida area, including Celebration Independent and Lake Magazine and currently writes for the Southwest Orlando Bulletin. She's usually found with a book in her hand or enjoying quality time with her husband Jeremy and dog Molly. You can order her book at Christian Author Bookstore - Xulon Press Publishing and visit her website at Parkeplaceediting.