Tuesday, November 13, 2007
BUSY HANDS ARE HAPPY HANDS?
"Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to." (I Timothy 5:13, NIV)
The above scripture is a tiny bit out of context when you look at it just by itself. It is in fact referring to widows over the age of 60 who do not have their time devoted to doing good work. However, over the past couple of days I have been involved in I think three conversations where this subject came up and then I read this post by another blogger as well.
When you think about the people you know, isn't it generally true that those who are the happiest overall are the ones who keep themselves busy while those who are depressed or bitter are the ones who have a lot of time on their hands?
I mean, I am sure there are exceptions to this (including the validity that clinical depression is a disease) and there are also all kinds of life circumstances that shape who we become but don't the people around you generally support this? The folks who are busy with volunteering or with family or with hobbies and other activities ... sometimes busy to the point of near-craziness ... are also the happiest ones, the ones overflowing with joy? And those who maybe spend eight hours at a job and then go and spend the rest of their time at home or watching the news or at a bar tend to be weary, downcast, and bitter?
What gives?
God made us to be people of action. His people. His actions. He placed us on this earth to try to build His Kingdom I believe. He has the perfect plan. He left us with the instruction manual. We just mess it up all the time. But someday He promises to bring that direct connection of heaven and earth that will perfect His Kingdom. In light of this, it seems to me that His Kingdom will consist of people who are busy ... people who are doing good work, caring about each other, and living in authentic community.
Maybe, just maybe, with new bodies, we will not even require sleep any longer so that we can devote all of our time to doing good. (I'd like that as sleep has always impressed me as a horrible waste of time.)
It is when we do good, I believe, that joy abounds. God made us to be people of action, not people of inaction. Our behaviors and attitudes reflect whether we live that out.
Thoughts?
The above scripture is a tiny bit out of context when you look at it just by itself. It is in fact referring to widows over the age of 60 who do not have their time devoted to doing good work. However, over the past couple of days I have been involved in I think three conversations where this subject came up and then I read this post by another blogger as well.
When you think about the people you know, isn't it generally true that those who are the happiest overall are the ones who keep themselves busy while those who are depressed or bitter are the ones who have a lot of time on their hands?
I mean, I am sure there are exceptions to this (including the validity that clinical depression is a disease) and there are also all kinds of life circumstances that shape who we become but don't the people around you generally support this? The folks who are busy with volunteering or with family or with hobbies and other activities ... sometimes busy to the point of near-craziness ... are also the happiest ones, the ones overflowing with joy? And those who maybe spend eight hours at a job and then go and spend the rest of their time at home or watching the news or at a bar tend to be weary, downcast, and bitter?
What gives?
God made us to be people of action. His people. His actions. He placed us on this earth to try to build His Kingdom I believe. He has the perfect plan. He left us with the instruction manual. We just mess it up all the time. But someday He promises to bring that direct connection of heaven and earth that will perfect His Kingdom. In light of this, it seems to me that His Kingdom will consist of people who are busy ... people who are doing good work, caring about each other, and living in authentic community.
Maybe, just maybe, with new bodies, we will not even require sleep any longer so that we can devote all of our time to doing good. (I'd like that as sleep has always impressed me as a horrible waste of time.)
It is when we do good, I believe, that joy abounds. God made us to be people of action, not people of inaction. Our behaviors and attitudes reflect whether we live that out.
Thoughts?
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1 Comments:
I'd have to agree with you about the people who are busy being in better shape than the ones with too much time on their hands. However, I also think that doing with PURPOSE is different than doing to be busy and that makes as much difference as well.
And, although I can see why you think sleep is a bit wasteful, there is something to be said for a long nap on a Saturday afternoon.
Ahhhhh....now THAT'S heaven!
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